“It was inspiring to collaborate with colleagues from around the world who share a common commitment to quality and patient safety,” Currier said. “While healthcare delivery models vary from country to country, there is a shared passion for expanding access to outpatient surgery and improving outcomes. The global ASC community is united by that purpose.”

Organized by IAAS, the Croatian Society for Day Surgery, and the Croatian Society of Nurses and Technicians in Ambulatory Surgery, the global congress brought together leaders from across multiple countries, reflecting the growing international focus on advancing safe, high-quality outpatient surgical care. The highlight of the congress was the diversity of healthcare systems worldwide, ranging from countries with highly advanced outpatient infrastructures to those actively transitioning more procedures into ambulatory settings, Currier said. “Across all regions, the emphasis remained consistent: delivering safe, high-quality surgical care while improving efficiency and patient experience,” he said.

“The congress featured a comprehensive scientific and educational program focused on advancing the quality, safety and efficiency of outpatient surgical care,” Joshi said. “A significant portion of the meeting addressed ambulatory surgery administration and operational efficiency, with presentations highlighting strategies to optimize patient flow, improve resource utilization, reduce costs and enhance overall healthcare delivery. Speakers shared successful models and best practices from various countries, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making, workforce development and innovative technologies in supporting high-performing ASCs.”

Almost 400 attendees and 16 exhibitors from several countries across the world participated in the congress. The schedule featured 91 educational sessions, eight workshops and 90 paper and poster presentations that covered important issues for ASC professionals, such as teaching and training competencies, new procedures in ASCs, the challenges of physician-nurse coleadership, and clinical topics, like emergency simulation and high-flow nasal oxygen therapies, general anesthesia for special needs patients, joint replacement in ASCs, and urology as a specialty in future day case surgeries.

The keynote speaker was Mohamed Gamal-Eldin from Hungary, who discussed the educational activities of IAAS to develop day surgery in central east European countries.

“The congress was a remarkable success, bringing together international leaders, clinicians and innovators in a spirit of collaboration, education and shared commitment to advancing ambulatory surgery worldwide,” Valedon said. “It was truly an amazing experience to be part of the congress.”