News for Immediate Release
September 18, 2025
Harrisburg – PHC4 released the inaugural publication of the Outpatient Procedures Report today. This new report, which will be published annually, displays volume for 10 different procedures commonly performed in the outpatient setting.
With this new report on procedures performed at ambulatory surgery centers and hospital outpatient departments, PHC4 is providing additional insight into more areas of service that haven’t been previously reported. Barry D. Buckingham, PHC4’s Executive Director, believes there are many benefits in reporting procedure volume, which include increased data transparency, and opportunities for benchmark development and quality improvement. Buckingham stated, “Many procedures are performed primarily in ambulatory surgery centers and hospital outpatient departments. This new report provides information that empowers stakeholders with insight in these important areas.” He went on to state that PHC4 is pleased to provide this new information so that consumers can investigate their options, and providers can compare their results.
The data included is from calendar year 2024 (January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024) and is reported individually for each facility. The 10 procedure types included in this report are: Carpal Tunnel Release, Cataract Procedures, Ear Tube Insertion, Endoscopy – Lower GI Diagnostic, Endoscopy – Upper GI Diagnostic, Gallbladder Removal – Laparoscopic, Hernia Repair – Abdomen, Hernia Repair – Groin, Tonsil and Adenoid Removal, and Urinary Tract Stone Removal. In alignment with its mission to empower Pennsylvanians through transparent reporting, PHC4 offers this new fact-based information to support those charged with the provision and oversight of health care resources.
PHC4 is an independent council formed under Pennsylvania statute (Act 89 of 1986, as amended by Act 15 of 2020) in order to address rapidly growing health care costs. PHC4 continues to produce comparative information about the most efficient and effective health care to individual consumers and group purchasers of health services. In addition, PHC4 produces information used to identify opportunities to contain costs and improve the quality of care delivered. For more information, visit phc4.org or review the full report here.
Media contact:
Barry D. Buckingham, Executive Director, PHC4
