U.S. News & World Report Names Specialist Surgery Center of Del Mar Among 2025 Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers
San Diego, CA – March 21, 2025 − Specialist Surgery Center of Del Mar has been recognized among the Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers in U.S. News & World Report’s latest study.
U.S. News’ second annual ratings offer Americans data-driven insights into their local ambulatory surgery center to inform their choices for quality outpatient surgery centers. In collaboration with CareJourney by Arcadia, U.S. News evaluated 4,357 surgery centers nationwide across four separate specialty areas. Specialist Surgery Center of Del Mar has been identified as a Best Ambulatory Surgery Center for Ophthalmology.
Ambulatory surgery centers were evaluated based entirely on objective, risk-adjusted measures of their patients’ outcomes, including how successfully they avoided complications, ER visits, unplanned hospitalizations and other undesirable outcomes. To ensure fair comparisons among ambulatory surgery centers, the analysis accounted for each patient’s pre-existing conditions and other risk factors. U.S. News recognizes only the highest-rated surgery centers in each specialty that satisfy U.S. News’ statistical assessment of performance; fewer than 17% of evaluated facilities earned a Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers rating for the 2025 study.
“This recognition is deeply meaningful to our entire team,” said Lee R. Katzman, MD, Medical Director at Specialist Surgery Center of Del Mar. “Over the past 5+ years, I’ve had the privilege of watching our physicians, nurses, staff, and administrators work tirelessly to create an environment where patient care, safety, and outcomes come first. We’ve cared for thousands of cataract patients in San Diego, and their trust and feedback have long affirmed what this award now recognizes—we are among the very best.”
“U.S. News’ second edition of the ambulatory surgery centers ratings empowers consumers to find a local outpatient facility that matches their surgical needs with exceptional outcomes,” said Chelsey Wen, senior health data analyst at U.S. News. “These ratings help patients, in consultation with their doctors, choose facilities focused on quality and safety.”
For more information on the U.S. News Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers ratings, explore Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) using #BestASCs.
About Specialist Surgery Center of Del Mar
Specialist Surgery Center of Del Mar is a physician-owned ambulatory surgery center in San Diego, CA, specializing in ophthalmic procedures including cataract surgery. With a reputation for clinical excellence and compassionate care, the center is committed to delivering safe, effective outpatient surgeries in a patient-focused environment. Our expert team is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in surgical care and outcomes.
About Lee R. Katzman, MD
Dr. Lee R. Katzman is the Medical Director of Specialist Surgery Center of Del Mar and a board-certified ophthalmologist with Alvarado Eye Associates; an NVISION eye center, serving patients in both La Mesa and Coronado, California. With the experience of performing thousands of cataract and refractive surgeries, Dr. Katzman is committed to providing exceptional visual outcomes and personalized care. For more information, visit www.sandiegocataractandlasik.com.