It has been almost 50 years since the first ASC opened its doors. Two physicians, Wallace Reed, MD, and John Ford, MD, established the first ASC in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1970 to provide timely, convenient and comfortable surgical services to patients in their community. In the last 50 years, ASCs have become pioneers of evolutionary surgery that benefits patients, Medicare and third-party payers. ASCs reduce healthcare spending in the US by $40.3 billion per year and save the Medicare system $2.3 billion annually.