The NSAS will provide important information about hospital-based and freestanding ambulatory surgery centers, and allow estimation of all surgical care, regardless of location. We estimate that approximately 225 facilities will elect to have their own staff perform the monthly sampling procedure. In the remainder of the participating ASCs, Census Bureau personnel will perform the sampling. Approximately 329 ASCs will perform their own data abstracting, and Census Bureau personnel will perform abstracting for an estimated 175 ASCs. On an annual basis, each facility will be contacted to update the sample frame and verify selected administrative information.
All data collected are from administrative records.
The Census Bureau is performing the work under the authority of Title 15, United States Code, Section 1525. This is an ongoing annual survey. We are collecting data for calendar year 1994 during the period March 1994-March 1995. We will begin collecting calendar year 1995 data in April 1995. In addition, data will be released to the public on computer tapes and data diskettes.