Top outpatient procedures at hospitals vs surgery centers

The continual shift from hospitals to outpatient care centers has allowed numerous patients and families to reduce their healthcare spending. This cost-effective transition occurs when patients seek outpatient care at a clinic or ambulatory surgery center (ASC) rather than a traditional hospital.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift from hospitals to ASCs has increased exponentially. According to our data, ASCs accounted for 14.3% of total outpatient surgical claims in 2019 vs 17.1% in 2022. In addition, outpatient surgical procedures performed at a hospital have been in decline: 50.0% in 2019 vs 47.8% in 2022. While both facilities are still performing outpatient procedures, the types of procedures may vary greatly.

Below, we've compiled a list of the top 10 outpatient medical procedures for the calendar year 2022 at U.S. hospitals and ASCs for comparison.

Top 10 hospital outpatient procedures

Rank	HCPCS/CPT Code	Description	% total procedures
1	36415	ROUTINE VENIPUNCTURE	3.10%
2	85025	COMPLETE CBC W/AUTO DIFF WBC	3.10%
3	80053	COMPREHEN METABOLIC PANEL	2.80%
4	99285	EMERGENCY DEPT VISIT HI MDM	2.50%
5	99284	EMERGENCY DEPT VISIT MOD MDM	2.30%
6	99283	EMERGENCY DEPT VISIT LOW MDM	2.00%
7	G0463	HOSPITAL OUTPT CLINIC VISIT	1.70%
8	97110	THERAPEUTIC EXERCISES	1.40%
9	99214	OFFICE O/P EST MOD 30-39 MIN	1.40%
10	99213	OFFICE O/P EST LOW 20-29 MIN	1.30%

 Fig. 1 Data is from Definitive Healthcare’s Atlas All-Payer Claims product. The ranking is based on the number of patients by each diagnosis for the calendar year 2022. Data was accessed on February 6, 2023.

What are the most common hospital procedures?

The most common hospital procedures are a routine venipuncture and a complete blood count with differential white blood cell count, each accounting for 3.10% of all hospital procedures. A routine venipuncture is the collection of blood from veins while a complete blood count with differential white blood cell count is a common test that records the number and types of both red and white blood cells, as well as platelet counts and hemoglobin levels.

Both of these procedures are conducted for a variety of ailments and for routine checkups, so it is unsurprising that they take the top spots. In actuality, routine venipunctures have a slightly higher volume of claims than the complete blood count test, which explains why it ranks first on this list.

Furthermore, the third most common procedure is a comprehensive metabolic panel, which accounts for 2.8% of all hospital procedures. This procedure is a test that measures 14 different substances in your blood. It provides important information about your body's chemical balance and metabolism.

Top 10 ASC outpatient procedures

Rank	HCPCS/CPT Code	Description	% total procedures
1	66984	CATARACT SURGERY W/O ECP	6.10%
2	43239	EGD BIOPSY SINGLE/MULTIPLE	4.10%
3	45380	COLONOSCOPY AND BIOPSY	3.90%
4	45385	COLONOSCOPY W/LESION REMOVAL	3.50%
5	142	ANESTH LENS SURGERY	2.50%
6	45378	DIAGNOSTIC COLONOSCOPY	2.30%
7	G8907	PT DOC NO EVENTS ON DISCHARG	2.10%
8	99214	OFFICE O/P EST MOD 30-39 MIN	1.80%
9	812	ANESTH FOR PROCEDURES ON LOWER ABDOMEN	1.60%
10	99213	OFFICE O/P EST LOW 20-29 MIN	1.60%

Fig. 2 Data is from Definitive Healthcare’s Atlas All-Payer Claims product. The ranking is based on the number of patients by each diagnosis through December 2022. Data was accessed on February 6, 2023.

What are the most common ASC procedures?

Cataract surgeries are by far the most common ASC procedure, accounting for over 6% of all ASC outpatient procedures. In second place, nearly two points behind, is esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EDG) with a biopsy, a quick procedure that examines the lining of the stomach, esophagus or small intestine. Rounding out the top three is a colonoscopy with biopsy.

In comparison to the hospital outpatient procedures, there are no reports of "routine venipunctures" or other diagnostic panels at ASCs.

ASCs solely focus on outpatient surgical procedures, while outpatient hospitals procedures vary more widely to account for the different types of outpatient care hospitals deliver. Wellness visits, diagnostic testing, and treatments in addition to outpatient surgeries all fall under outpatient services delivered in a hospital.

Inpatient vs. outpatient care

The difference between inpatient and outpatient care is that inpatient procedures require the patient to stay over at the healthcare facility for at least one night once admitted to a specialty department, like general surgery or cardiology. Some common reasons for inpatient care include childbirth, mental health, and traumatic injuries.

In contrast, outpatient procedures do not require an overnight stay and usually involve routine checkups by a primary care physician or can include more complex procedures such as blood work and cancer screenings.

Hospitals vs. ASCs

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) are medical facilities that specialize in outpatient surgeries, with services that rarely exceed 24 hours. They tend to focus on specific areas of care, such as colonoscopy or plastic surgery. By comparison, hospitals offer some outpatient services but mainly focus on overnight stays and inpatient procedures.

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