ACCESS and Johnson & Johnson Announce Multi-Year Agreement to Expand Advanced Cardiac Electrophysiology Technologies in U.S. Ambulatory Surgery Centers
ACCESS, through its physician-led group purchasing organization, ACCESS Group Purchasing Organization (ACCESS GPO), has announced a new multi-year preferred portfolio agreement with Johnson & Johnson aimed at expanding access to advanced cardiac electrophysiology technologies across ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in the United States. The collaboration brings together a comprehensive portfolio of technologies designed to support the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, including three-dimensional cardiac mapping, intracardiac imaging, radiofrequency ablation, and pulsed field ablation.
The agreement comes as cardiac electrophysiology continues to evolve rapidly and more procedures traditionally performed in hospital settings are increasingly being considered for appropriately selected patients in outpatient environments. By making advanced technologies more accessible to physician-led ASCs, the partnership is intended to help healthcare providers expand procedural capacity, support high-quality electrophysiology programs, and improve patient access to modern catheter-based treatments.
Cardiac arrhythmias affect millions of people and can range from relatively benign rhythm abnormalities to conditions that significantly increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, hospitalization, and other serious complications. Catheter ablation has become an important treatment option for several types of arrhythmias, particularly when medication is ineffective, poorly tolerated, or insufficient to control symptoms.
As demand for electrophysiology procedures continues to grow, healthcare organizations are exploring new ways to deliver these services efficiently while maintaining clinical quality and patient safety. ASCs are increasingly becoming part of this evolving care model, particularly for procedures that can be performed safely in an outpatient setting for appropriately selected patients.
Expanding Access to Advanced Electrophysiology Technologies
Under the new agreement, ACCESS-affiliated ambulatory surgery centers will have access to an integrated portfolio of Johnson & Johnson cardiac electrophysiology technologies. The portfolio includes solutions for three-dimensional mapping, intracardiac imaging, radiofrequency ablation, and pulsed field ablation.
These technologies play complementary roles during electrophysiology procedures. Three-dimensional mapping systems can help physicians visualize cardiac anatomy and electrical activity, allowing them to identify abnormal electrical pathways and precisely guide catheter placement. Intracardiac imaging can provide additional visualization during procedures, supporting physicians as they navigate catheters within the heart.
Ablation technologies are used to eliminate or isolate areas of abnormal electrical activity responsible for arrhythmias. Radiofrequency ablation has been an established component of electrophysiology treatment for years, while pulsed field ablation represents a newer approach that uses electrical energy to create therapeutic lesions.
By bringing these capabilities together within a preferred technology portfolio, the agreement is designed to give ACCESS-affiliated ASCs a broader platform for developing and expanding their electrophysiology programs.
The collaboration also reflects a broader trend in healthcare toward moving appropriate procedures into lower-cost, patient-focused outpatient environments without compromising clinical standards.
Growing Role of Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Ambulatory surgery centers have become an increasingly important component of the U.S. healthcare system. These facilities are designed to provide selected procedures without requiring patients to remain in the hospital overnight, potentially offering benefits related to convenience, operational efficiency, and healthcare resource utilization.
In cardiac electrophysiology, the growth of outpatient care is being supported by advances in procedural technology, anesthesia and monitoring practices, imaging, mapping systems, and ablation techniques. As these technologies continue to develop, more electrophysiology procedures may become suitable for carefully selected patients in ASC settings.
The ACCESS and Johnson & Johnson agreement is intended to support this transition by helping physician-led centers obtain technologies required to establish and maintain advanced electrophysiology capabilities.
“Cardiac electrophysiology is undergoing a period of remarkable innovation, and it is important that patients treated in ambulatory surgery centers have access to the same advanced technologies available in traditional hospital settings,” said Vivek Reddy, M.D., Director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Services at The Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.
Dr. Reddy added that the collaboration can help physicians performing ablation procedures in ASCs continue to provide advanced treatment options while maintaining the flexibility, efficiency, and patient-centered approach associated with the ASC model.
Supporting Physicians and Patient-Centered Care
A central element of the agreement is its focus on physician-led ASCs. ACCESS GPO was established to address the specific needs of physician-led ambulatory surgery centers, including improving access to advanced medical technologies and supporting the economic and operational requirements associated with building specialized procedural programs.
For physicians and ASC operators, establishing an electrophysiology program requires more than simply acquiring equipment. Centers must also develop appropriate clinical protocols, staffing models, infrastructure, patient-selection criteria, procedural workflows, and post-procedure monitoring capabilities.
The availability of a coordinated technology portfolio can help centers evaluate how different systems and treatment technologies fit within their clinical programs. It may also simplify the process of acquiring and implementing technologies as electrophysiology services expand.
Arash Aryana, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director of Cardiovascular Services at Mercy Medical Group in Sacramento, California, emphasized the potential impact of improving access to advanced technologies.
“By creating greater access to these technologies within physician-led ambulatory surgery centers, we can help expand treatment options for patients while supporting the continued growth of high-quality cardiac electrophysiology programs in the outpatient setting,” he said.
Advancing the Outpatient Electrophysiology Model
The partnership also comes at a time when electrophysiology is experiencing substantial technological innovation. Newer approaches are changing how physicians identify arrhythmogenic tissue, navigate cardiac anatomy, and deliver ablation therapy.
Pulsed field ablation, in particular, has generated significant interest within the electrophysiology community. Unlike traditional thermal ablation approaches, pulsed field technology uses electrical pulses to create therapeutic effects. Its emergence has added another technology option for physicians treating certain arrhythmias.
The availability of both established and emerging ablation technologies can give electrophysiology programs greater flexibility as they determine the most appropriate approach for individual patients.
According to Vijay Swarup, M.D., Executive Director of Arizona Heart Rhythm Center in Phoenix, the migration of appropriately selected electrophysiology procedures into ASCs represents an important development in cardiovascular care.
“The movement of appropriately selected electrophysiology procedures into ambulatory surgery centers represents one of the most important developments in cardiovascular care today,” Dr. Swarup said. He noted that the agreement can provide ACCESS-affiliated centers with a more efficient pathway for evaluating, acquiring, and implementing advanced technologies while developing the clinical and operational infrastructure necessary for sustainable outpatient electrophysiology programs.
Addressing Increasing Demand for Arrhythmia Treatment
The demand for cardiac rhythm management continues to increase as the population ages and awareness of cardiovascular disease grows. Conditions such as atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias can require long-term medical management and, for some patients, catheter-based intervention.
For healthcare systems, the growing number of patients requiring electrophysiology procedures creates pressure to expand procedural capacity. Traditional hospital-based electrophysiology laboratories remain essential, particularly for complex and high-risk cases, but ASCs can provide an additional setting for appropriately selected procedures.
By supporting the expansion of outpatient electrophysiology programs, ACCESS and Johnson & Johnson aim to contribute to a healthcare delivery model that can accommodate growing demand while emphasizing physician leadership and patient-centered care.
The agreement does not eliminate the need for careful patient selection or appropriate clinical infrastructure. Instead, it is designed to provide qualified centers with access to technologies that can support the development of comprehensive electrophysiology services.
Building Sustainable Electrophysiology Programs
ACCESS GPO’s physician-led structure is intended to help participating ASCs navigate the financial and operational considerations associated with advanced procedural technology. Strategic partnerships with medical technology companies can help centers improve purchasing access while creating opportunities for collaboration among electrophysiology programs.
For newer or expanding ASC-based electrophysiology programs, developing sustainable economics is particularly important. Advanced mapping, imaging, and ablation technologies can represent substantial investments, making efficient procurement and technology planning an important part of program development.
The new agreement provides a framework through which ACCESS-affiliated centers can evaluate advanced electrophysiology solutions while seeking to strengthen their procedural capabilities.
Ultimately, the partnership between ACCESS and Johnson & Johnson reflects the continuing transformation of cardiovascular care in the United States. As technology advances and healthcare providers look for efficient ways to deliver high-quality treatment, ambulatory surgery centers are positioned to play a growing role in the management of cardiac arrhythmias.
Through the multi-year preferred portfolio agreement, ACCESS GPO is seeking to strengthen the technology foundation available to physician-led ASCs and support the responsible expansion of electrophysiology services. The collaboration combines advanced cardiac technologies with the operational and purchasing capabilities of a physician-focused group purchasing organization.
As outpatient cardiovascular care continues to evolve, initiatives such as this agreement could help qualified ASCs expand their capabilities, physicians access modern procedural technologies, and patients gain additional opportunities to receive advanced arrhythmia treatment in convenient care settings.
About ACCESS
ACCESS is a physician-led Management Services Organization focused on supporting ambulatory surgery centers, with particular expertise in cardiovascular and cardiac electrophysiology programs. Through ACCESS GPO and strategic relationships with leading medical technology companies, the organization helps member centers improve purchasing efficiency, evaluate and implement advanced technologies, and obtain the clinical, operational, and strategic resources needed to develop sustainable, high-quality outpatient programs.
ACCESS and ACCESS GPO are building the infrastructure needed to expand access to advanced cardiac arrhythmia care while preserving physician choice and maintaining rigorous standards for quality, safety, efficiency and clinical outcomes.