Ambulatory Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Emergency Departments, Surgical Specialty, Primary Care Offices, Medical Specialty), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2026

Report Overview

The global ambulatory services market size was valued at USD 2.72 trillion in 2018 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.1% over the forecast period. Increasing preference for outpatient care, as it is cost-effective and does not require a hospital stay, is likely to be the key factor driving the market. Government initiatives and the availability of funding for ambulatory healthcare facilities are also anticipated to impel market growth in the coming years.

Reduced hospital stays and lowered healthcare expenditure due to high preference for minimally invasive surgeries and technological advancements will drive the market further. For instance, the development of laparoscopy and endoscopy has reduced the need for longer hospital stays. In December 2016, Methodist Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) was opened in the U.S. It is an outpatient-based imaging center that delivers high-quality and cost-effective medical imaging to patients.

Governments are investing more in primary healthcare facilities to provide accessible medical care. In February 2016, reforms introduced by NHS, which involved the provision of increased funding to general physicians to ease the pressure on accident and emergency departments, boosted the prospects of Primary Healthcare Properties (PHP). Various business strategies undertaken by prominent companies are also projected to augment market development over the coming years.

These strategies include geographic expansion, mergers and acquisitions, and product launches. In January 2015, the Government of India announced its plan to increase healthcare spending to at least 2.5% of the GDP, thereby offering free primary care through public facilities. Through this initiative, the government is planning to increase the offerings of primary care services for reproductive diseases and communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Type Insights

Based on the type, the ambulatory services market is segmented into primary care offices, emergency departments, surgical specialty, and medical specialty. Surgical specialty is sub-segmented into orthopedics, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, plastic surgery, pain management, and others. Primary care offices led the market in 2018 due to improved quality of care and the implementation of new technologies, such as computerized prescribing systems and Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Implementation of EHR in rural areas and drug procurement have improved primary and follow-up care, thus reducing manual errors. Collaborations among major government and private organizations to provide low-cost access to various treatments are expected to boost the ambulatory services segment.

For instance, in March 2015, Tenet Healthcare Corporation and United Surgical Partners International entered into a joint venture for ownership interests in 244 Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), 20 imaging centers, and 16 short-stay surgical hospitals in U.S. Surgical specialty is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to easy reimbursement policies, demand for minimally invasive procedures, and rising M&A activities among key companies. In December 2016, Surgical Care Affiliates, Inc. (SCA) collaborated with Midwest Center for Day Surgery. This partnership helped expand SCA’s position as a provider of low-cost and high-quality surgeries in Chicago.

Regional Insights

North America led the global market in 2018 and accounted for approximately 44.0% market share. This can be attributed to quick adoption of technologically advanced products. Government initiatives and M&A activities are projected to drive the regional market further. For example, in January 2017, Envision Healthcare acquired Sunshine Radiology, LLC. This increased the company’s capacity to provide services to 80 healthcare ambulatory facilities and more than 55 hospitals in Florida.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. Increasing healthcare expenditure owing to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and cases of hospital readmissions has encouraged the expansion of outpatient centers, which is expected to drive the region’s growth. In January 2015, Sanofi acquired 20% stake of Apollo Sugar Clinics (diabetes care clinic) in India for USD 15.0 million. The government of China encourages the use of mobile apps to decrease long waiting lines at outpatient centers as apps provide online appointment and payment systems.

Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico are the major economies in the Latin America market. Healthcare providers in this region are expanding their services by collaborating with international firms to increase their market share. In August 2014, the Regenerative Medicine Institute started ambulatory services for patients that do not require a hospital stay, thus increasing the number of options for treatment settings.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key market contributors are AmSurg Corp.; IntegraMed America, Inc.; Terveystalo; Aspen Healthcare; and Medical Facilities Corporation. These companies have undertaken several business expansion strategies to maintain their industry position. In January 2017, merged companies Envision Healthcare and AmSurg Corp. acquired Emergency Professional Services, PC. The group has 20 advanced healthcare practitioners and 50 emergency medicine physicians. This acquisition includes two anesthesia groups, one emergency medical group, one radiology, and one neonatal group.

In the recent past, Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital, a subsidiary of Medical Facilities Corporation, acquired Prairie States Surgical Center, LLC. The transaction was worth USD 19.95 million that will be paid over a span of 5 years. This acquisition was anticipated to boost the company’s growth in the field of orthopedic surgeries by enabling it to provide the best quality of surgical and patient recovery care.

Ambulatory Services Market Report Scope 

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2015 to 2026. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global ambulatory services market report on the basis of type and region:

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

  • Primary Care Offices

  • Emergency Departments

  • Surgical Specialty

    • Ophthalmology

    • Orthopedics

    • Gastroenterology

    • Pain Management/Spinal Injections

    • Plastic Surgery

    • Others

  • Medical Specialty

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • The U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Spain

    • Italy

    • Switzerland

    • Netherlands

    • Belgium

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • Thailand

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Colombia

  • Middle East and Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • United Arab Emirates