ASC Experts: An Interview on IT Infrastructure in Ambulatory Surgery Centers
By: Campbell Helm
As part of our ASC Experts series, we spoke with IT leaders experienced in supporting healthcare facilities. In this conversation, Chad Chamides (Founder & CEO) and Eric Salberg (Chief Strategy Officer) at Titanium IT share their perspective on the unique challenges of ASC technology environments, the role of cybersecurity, and where the biggest opportunities lie for IT to drive operational efficiency. Titanium IT is a full-service Technology Services Provider (TSP) with a focus on day-to-day support, cybersecurity, and build outs within the healthcare and ASC space. With years of experience helping ASCs design and implement secure, scalable IT solutions, Chad and Eric bring both technical knowledge and practical insight from working directly with administrators and clinical teams.
Q: Can you give us a brief overview of your experience specifically supporting IT infrastructure within ambulatory surgery centers?
I’ve spent the majority of my career in healthcare IT, and a significant portion of that has been focused on ASCs. The ASC setting is unique — it requires hospital-grade infrastructure but at the speed and scale of an outpatient environment. My role has been to design, implement, and manage IT solutions and systems that keep procedures moving seamlessly, whether that’s EMR integration, network redundancy, or cybersecurity safeguards.
Q: What are the unique technical challenges you’ve seen in ASCs that differ from other healthcare facilities?
Downtime simply isn’t an option. In a hospital, you may have redundancies across departments, but in an ASC, every room is mission critical. If the system goes down midday, the entire procedural flow is impacted. That makes resiliency, up-time, and rapid response the top priorities.
Q: How do you approach integrating EMR/EHR platforms with scheduling systems, billing software, and medical devices inside the ASC?
Integration is one of the biggest challenges. Many ASCs run on lean IT teams, so creating an ecosystem where EMRs, scheduling platforms, and anesthesia or device software communicate seamlessly is critical. The process starts by working with the ASC administration team to identify pain points and inefficiencies. From there, we lead discovery and design sessions with the ASC and EMR/EHR developers. Together, we build middleware and use APIs to ensure data flows automatically, reducing double entry and freeing staff from unnecessary administrative burden.
Q: What cybersecurity threats do you see as most relevant to ASCs right now?
ASCs are attractive targets because downtime pressures are so high and hackers know that. Like most industries, ASCs are also vulnerable to email phishing campaigns, which are growing more sophisticated with the use of AI. These attacks are increasing at an exponential rate, and the content is becoming far more convincing. A successful phishing attempt can give hackers access to user credentials or provide a pathway to deploy ransomware. That’s why we emphasize staff training, strong network segmentation, tested backup systems, and proactive defenses. HIPAA compliance is the baseline, but real protection comes from preparing for downtime risks and building resilience against evolving threats.
Q: How do you balance the need for security with physicians’ desire for speed and efficiency when accessing patient data?
That’s always the tension. If security slows a surgeon down throughout the day, it’s a problem. At a global scale, we design redundant processes and systems to ensure patient data remains accessible when needed. For day-to-day operations, we solve this by using tools like single sign-on and secure mobile access, which protect data without creating friction for physicians in the OR.
Q: What systems do you put in place to ensure HIPAA compliance across an ASC?
We start with access controls — role-based permissions, audit logs, and encryption for data in transit and at rest. Then we layer in training. Technology only goes so far; staff need to know how to recognize phishing attempts, handle patient data properly, and escalate issues.
Q: What’s the most common IT mistake you see ASCs make when scaling or adding procedure rooms?
Underestimating bandwidth and Wi-Fi coverage. Adding rooms without expanding the network backbone leads to bottlenecks in documentation and device communication. We always recommend overbuilding the network from the start — it’s cheaper than trying to patch it later.
Q: Looking ahead over the next 2–3 years, what emerging technologies do you think will have the biggest impact on ASC efficiency and patient safety?
AI tools for charting and predictive analytics will be huge. Imagine reducing manual charting by 50% or predicting when a system will fail before it does. Automation in reprocessing and inventory will also be game changers, taking pressure off staff and improving patient safety at the same time.
This conversation highlights how IT in the ASC environment goes far beyond basic connectivity. From integrating EMRs and scheduling systems to defending against increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity threats, IT leaders are tasked with balancing efficiency, compliance, and security. Their strategies, whether through middleware, APIs, staff training, or redundant system design, all aim to reduce friction for clinical teams while safeguarding patient data and ensuring up time.
Ultimately, this perspective reinforces that IT in the ASC setting is more than “keeping the Wi-Fi on.” It is about building resilient, secure, and efficient systems that directly impact patient outcomes and operational success. As ASCs continue to grow in complexity and scale, the role of IT will remain central in driving both clinical excellence and sustainable expansion.