Final answer:
The accuracy of the statement regarding hospital bed numbers remaining stable despite the growth of ambulatory surgery centers can't be assessed without context and data. Healthcare in the U.S. has seen consolidation and a shift toward efficiency, but the effect of these changes on hospitals and beds varies by location and time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the number of hospitals and the number hospital beds have remained stable, in spite of significant expansion by ambulatory surgery centers, lacks specific context and data to determine its accuracy. Healthcare in the U.S. has indeed undergone significant changes with a trend towards consolidation and efficiency in response to overwhelming increases in demand.
This has been characterized by a significant growth in alternative healthcare providers, such as urgent care offices and ambulatory surgery centers. However, the impact of these changes on the number of hospitals and hospital beds can vary depending on geographic location and specific time periods considered. Therefore, without specific data, it is challenging to label the statement as strictly true or false.