Study: ER Wait Times Across the U.S. – Where Patients Wait the Longest
Emergency room visits are on the rise, with the average American visiting the ER 34.5 times in their lifetime. Each year, there are roughly 4 ER visits per 10 people, putting immense pressure on hospitals and staff.
A new study by Nursa, a per diem healthcare staffing platform, analyzed ER data nationwide to reveal which states have the longest and shortest emergency room wait times.
Key Findings:
- ⏱️ National average ER wait time: 2h 35m
- 🥇 Longest wait: Maryland — 4h 11m
- 🥈 Massachusetts & Rhode Island — 3h 40m
- 🕒 Shortest wait: North Dakota — 1h 50m
- 🏥 Most ER visits: West Virginia — 596 visits per 1,000 people
- 🚪 Highest rate of patients leaving before being seen: Massachusetts, Rhode Island & Delaware (5%)
Top 5 States With Longest ER Waits
| Rank | State | Avg Wait Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | 4h 11m |
| =2 | Massachusetts | 3h 40m |
| =2 | Rhode Island | 3h 40m |
| 4 | Delaware | 3h 34m |
| 5 | Connecticut | 3h 17m |
Why the delays?
Maryland’s longer waits are driven by low nurse and physician availability, limited hospital beds, and increasing patient demand. In Massachusetts, even with the highest number of physicians per capita, many residents struggle to access primary care, pushing more patients toward urgent care and ER visits.
Top 5 States With Shortest ER Waits
| Rank | State | Avg Wait Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 1h 50m |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1h 52m |
| 3 | South Dakota | 1h 53m |
| 4 | Hawaii | 1h 53m |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 1h 57m |
North Dakota stands out with high nurse staffing levels, ample hospital beds, and strong healthcare infrastructure, leading to significantly faster patient turnover.
Healthcare Staffing Shortages: A Driving Factor
The U.S. is currently grappling with a nationwide nursing shortage, directly impacting ER efficiency. Staffing gaps affect everything from initial triage to patient throughput, increasing wait times and contributing to the 2.5% of patients who leave the ER without being seen.
Why It Matters
Long ER waits can lead to poorer health outcomes, increased patient frustration, and higher operational stress for already overburdened healthcare teams.
This study underscores the urgent need for innovative staffing solutions and system-wide reforms to improve patient access and efficiency.
For those interested, Nursa also offers facility-level data that lets you see how your local hospitals compare. View it here: https://nursa.com/facility
