What is the average emergency room wait time

But Muller says hospital staff members do their best to deliver prompt, thorough care to everyone, no matter the condition. The best thing to do is to not wait until something becomes an emergency, if you can, especially during cold and flu season. Many physician offices have timeslots specifically for emergent situations and can most likely get you or your loved one in for an appointment on the same day if needed.

When patients are waiting, it means that other patients with serious medical conditions are receiving necessary and often lifesaving care from the Emergency Department team. Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital or Texas Health Resources. Understanding Emergency Department Wait Times. Blood in the urine without pain. Asthma symptoms that do not improve or worsen.

Depression or suicidal thoughts. Latest News. Upcoming Events. Read Our Blog. Video Center. Patient Forms. California wait times remain higher than the national average. In , the median length of a stay in the ER before inpatient admission nationwide was 80 minutes shorter than the median stay in California.

The growth in patients leaving California ERs prematurely was faster than the growth in overall ER encounters. About 2. One of her recent patients was at high risk for a major stroke but insisted he needed to leave the ER to take care of his pet. Compared with all ER patients, those leaving against medical advice were more likely to be men; people ages 20 to 39; and uninsured or on Medi-Cal, the government insurance program for the poor, state figures show.

They were also more likely to complain primarily of non-specific symptoms such as chest pain or a cough. Fresno, Shasta, Yuba, Kern, San Bernardino and Tulare counties had the highest proportion of ER encounters in that ended with patients leaving against medical advice or abruptly discontinuing care.