Two ambulatory surgical center associations agree to merge

Members of the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (AAASC) and Foundation for Ambulatory Surgery in America (FASA), the nation’s largest ASC associations, voted nearly unanimously to approve the proposed merger of the groups. Effective Jan. 1, 2008, the two organizations will become one, known as the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, or ASC Association.

“The new ASC Association will provide a unified voice for ASCs and enhance the value of all the benefits and services that both AASC and FASA currently offer their members,” Kathy Bryant, current FASA president and future chief executive officer of the ASC Association, said.

The new ASC Association board of directors will include 10 members from the existing FASA boards, five from the board of the AASC, and two members appointed from neither board.

Also on Jan. 1, the education and research arm of the ASC community will be renamed the Ambulatory Surgery Foundation, and will be governed by a board formed from existing ASC and FASA board members.

Both organizations will be headquartered in Alexandria, VA.