HRS/ACC Scientific Statement: Guiding Principles on the Performance of Intracardiac Ablation Procedures in Ambulatory Surgical Centers
Department
Cardiology
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Abstract
Ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) in the United States have emerged as an innovative model in health care delivery, potentially serving as a cost-effective, patient-centric alternative to traditional hospital-based care. Supported by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services policy expansions, ASCs accommodate procedures across specialties from orthopedics to interventional cardiology. By leveraging technological/procedural advancements and same-day discharge protocols, appropriately selected procedures in the field of cardiac electrophysiology (such as intracardiac ablation procedures and cardiac implantable electronic device implants) could increasingly shift to an ASC setting. This transition aligns with a growing clinical need for arrhythmia interventions and a broader push for operational efficiency. A mounting body of evidence supports the feasibility of performing intracardiac ablation procedures in the ASC setting, with an ongoing need for clinical investigation to track outcomes. Additional barriers to scalable clinical adoption exist, such as regulatory fragmentation, workforce challenges, and heterogeneity in reimbursement. As such, performance of intracardiac ablation procedures in the ASC setting will require collaboration among stakeholders (clinicians, policymakers, payers, and advocacy groups) to investigate and ensure safety and effectiveness, harmonize payment policies, prioritize equitable access, and embed rigorous quality assurance frameworks. By integrating data-driven protocols, clinical excellence, and ethical practices, ASCs could fulfill a defined adjunctive role in a value-based health care system, assuring high-quality care without compromising patient safety while improving access.
First Page
1827
Last Page
1844
DOI
10.1016/j.jacc.2025.10.044
Volume
87
Issue
14
Publication Date
4-14-2026
Publisher
Elsevier Biomedical
Medical Subject Headings
Humans; United States; Catheter Ablation; Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cardiology
PubMed ID
41283865
Recommended Citation
Shanker, A. J., Jones, S. O., Aryana, A., Blankenship, J. C., Cheung, J. W., Hurwitz, J. L., Liu, C. F., Marine, J. E., Merchant, F. M., Tamirisa, K. P., & Zeitler, E. P. (2026). HRS/ACC Scientific Statement: Guiding Principles on the Performance of Intracardiac Ablation Procedures in Ambulatory Surgical Centers. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 87 (14), 1827-1844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.10.044