As Americans head into the Christmas holiday period, a new nationwide study warns that emergency room wait times vary dramatically across the United States, raising concerns about patient safety during one of the busiest times of the year for hospitals.
The analysis, conducted by personal injury attorneys Injured In Florida using data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, shows that patients nationwide spend an average of 159.9 minutes in emergency departments before being seen by a doctor or nurse. However, in some states, patients wait more than four hours, with a roughly 120 percent gap between the fastest and slowest states.
The findings follow recent reporting by The Guardian that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is facing severe staffing shortages across its hospital system. The new study suggests that these pressures extend well beyond the VA, affecting hospitals nationwide and contributing to significant disparities in access to emergency care.
Longest emergency department wait times
Maryland recorded the longest average emergency department wait time in the country, with patients waiting an average of 248.2 minutes before being seen. This is 55 percent higher than the national average. Researchers point to factors such as overcrowding and staffing shortages as likely contributors.
Massachusetts ranked second, with an average wait time of 223.9 minutes, followed closely by Rhode Island at 222.6 minutes. Delaware ranked fourth at 214.8 minutes, while New York ranked fifth, with patients waiting an average of 202.5 minutes. High population density and heavy demand in major metropolitan areas such as Boston and New York City are believed to be driving longer waits in these areas.
The ten states with the longest average emergency department wait times are Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina, California, and Arizona.
Shortest emergency department wait times
At the other end of the spectrum, several Plains and Mountain states reported significantly shorter wait times. North Dakota had the shortest average wait at 112 minutes, followed by South Dakota at 114 minutes and Nebraska at 118.3 minutes. Kansas and Oklahoma ranked among the five states with the shortest waits.
Overall, the study found that patients in the fastest states are typically seen more than an hour earlier than those in states with the most extended delays.
Impact on patients during the holidays
A spokesperson for Injured In Florida said prolonged emergency department wait times can have profound implications for patient outcomes, particularly during the holiday season when hospitals often see surges in injuries and illness.
“Long wait times in emergency departments can significantly affect health outcomes, as delays may lead to prolonged discomfort, complications, or treatment not being administered quickly enough,” the spokesperson said. “To help better protect yourself and your family, it can be useful to understand first aid practices or consider alternative care options for non-emergency issues, especially if you live in a state with much longer wait times.”
Methodology
The study analyzed state-level data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, calculating average emergency department wait times based on the time patients spend before being seen by a medical provider. Rankings were created using averages of hospital data within each state and territory, with supporting population data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
