How long is the average ER wait in NY?

Asked by: Trace Green PhD  |  Last update: January 7, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (46 votes)

The typical ER visit in New York takes more than 3 hours. At some Capital Region hospitals, they take over 6 hours on average.

How long is a typical ER wait time?

On a national level, the average wait time is approximately 30 minutes to see a triage nurse and about an hour to two hours to see a doctor.

How long is an average ER visit?

The average length of stay overall in an emergency room was 4.2 hours. For non-behavioral health conditions, around 30 percent of patients spent more than four hours in the emergency room.

What state has the longest ER wait times?

New study says Maryland's ER waiting times are longest in the country. BALTIMORE — A new study revealed the top states with the longest and shortest emergency room waiting times and Maryland tops the ranking.

How long to wait in the ER before leaving?

The Joint Commission recommends that boarding times be no more than four hours.

Why are ER wait times so long and what's being done to fix it?

19 related questions found

Who gets priority in the ER?

Patients with a critical illness or injury are seen first.

How to speed up ER wait time?

10 Tips to Reduce Emergency Room Wait Times
  1. Choose Urgent Care First. ...
  2. Utilize Telemedicine Options. ...
  3. Schedule Appointments Online. ...
  4. Visit During Off-Peak Hours. ...
  5. Know Your Symptoms. ...
  6. Prepare Necessary Documents. ...
  7. Use Triage Effectively. ...
  8. Follow Up Post-Visit.

What is the slowest day in the ER?

Weekdays, specifically Tuesday and Wednesday, tend to be less busy compared to weekends. The average wait time to see a healthcare professional in the ER is about 30 minutes, but this can vary greatly based on numerous factors.

What is the average time spent in the ER?

Below, we show the average time patients spent in the emergency room before leaving, by state. The median emergency room visit time in 2024 in the U.S. was 2 hours and 42 minutes. Twenty states had average emergency room visit times higher than the national average.

Which ER is the busiest?

U.S. hospitals with the most annual ED visits 2022

The U.S. hospital with the most emergency department visits in 2022 was Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas, followed by Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida.

Is it cheaper to go to urgent care or ER?

An urgent care visit is between $100 and $200 – about ten times less than the average ER visit. If you have insurance, it should only be the cost of your co-pay. Most urgent care clinics are open 7 days a week. And, on average, wait times are 30 minutes or less.

What percent of ER visits are admitted?

The proportion of critical ED visits resulting in admission decreased from 52.7% in 2012 to 37.5% in 2022 (−28.8% [95% CI, −30.7% to −26.8%]).

How to get ER to admit you?

ER physicians do not have admitting privileges. If they feel a patient warrants admission they call the attending of the service “on call” for the day, and discuss the patient. ER staff may write a few orders until the attending arrives to fully assess the patient's problem.

Is it normal to wait 6 hours in the ER?

In general, the accepted duration of a patient in ED—emergency department length of stay (EDLOS)—is 6 hours. The National Health System of the UK, however, pegs this at 4 hours. A 6 hours wait in ED might be acceptable for a patient being admitted to the wards, but not so for a critically ill patient.

Why are ERs overcrowded?

The increasing crowding during the pandemic is believed to be due mainly to three factors: the mismatch between the need for intensive care unit beds and the number of available beds, the large number of frail patients requiring stabilization before admission to hospital wards, and the change in management of all ...

How long is a typical ER wait?

The average wait time for the ER in the U.S. is approximately two hours and 25 minutes, but some states see wait times as long as four hours, according to Florida-based personal injury attorneys from The Schiller Kessler Group.

What is the 72 hour rule for hospitals?

Under the 72 hour rule any outpatient diagnostic or other medical services performed within 72 hours before being admitted to the hospital must be combined and billed together and not separately.

How long is a usual ER visit?

The median time patients spent in emergency rooms was 2 hours, 40 minutes nationwide based on a 12-month average ending in the third quarter of 2022, according to the latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data.

What to say to get seen faster in an emergency room?

Be specific: Describe your symptoms in detail. Instead of saying “I feel sick,” explain the specific symptoms you are experiencing, such as nausea, dizziness, or chest pain. This will help the medical staff understand the urgency of your situation. Use descriptive language: Paint a vivid picture of your symptoms.

Is it better to go to the ER at night or morning?

ERs generally see a decline in patient visits during the early morning hours. Furthermore, weekends, in contrast to popular belief, also tend to be less crowded. If your condition is not life-threatening but still requires immediate medical attention, considering these off-peak hours might be beneficial.

What symptoms will get you admitted to the hospital?

Go to an emergency department or call 911 or the local emergency number for help for problems such as:
  • Trouble breathing.
  • Passing out, fainting.
  • Pain in the arm or jaw.
  • Unusual or bad headache, particularly if it started suddenly.
  • Dizziness or weakness that does not go away.
  • Inhaled smoke or poisonous fumes.
  • Sudden confusion.

What factors increase wait time in the ER?

Longer emergency department wait times are linked to both delays in care and patients leaving the hospital before getting care. The number of patients who need care, the number of available staff and hospital beds, and the amount of time it takes to diagnose patients can all affect emergency department wait times.

How do you skip the line in the ER?

Skip the Waiting Room

ER Express check-in allows patients with non-life-threatening illness the option of setting up an available reservation time. Once the online reservation form is completed, patients can wait in the comfort of their home until their designated ER Express time.

How do you get taken seriously at the ER?

Think through all of your symptoms, and how you can relay them to the nurses and physicians succinctly and completely. If you can't recall your medications or allergies, it's a good time to call home or your pharmacy to make sure you have a complete list. In some cases, we may ask about your end of life wishes.