44 Statistics on ED Wait Times

The nationwide average wait time to see a physician in an emergency department increased from 45 minutes in 1998-2000 to 55 minutes in 2008-2010, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

The report, "Health, United States, 2012: With Special Feature on Emergency Care," includes data on ED wait times according to different characteristics in 1998 to 2000 and 2008 to 2010. For example, the CDC compared wait times at hospitals in different types of counties as defined by NCHS. The CDC notes that the mean is higher than the median because a small proportion of visits had long wait times.

Here are 44 statistics on ED wait time from the CDC:

Total
Mean 1998-2000: 45 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 55.1 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 24.7 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 31.3 minutes

Males
Mean 1998-2000: 44.5 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 52.8 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 24.3 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 29.6 minutes

Females
Mean 1998-2000: 45.5 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 57.1 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 24.9 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 32.9 minutes

White, not Hispanic
Mean 1998-2000: 39.5 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 49.7 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 21.7 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 28.9 minutes

Black, not Hispanic
Mean 1998-2000: 54.2 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 67.7 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 30.2 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 39.4 minutes

Hispanic
Mean 1998-2000: 56.6 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 59.7 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 33.3 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 34.1 minutes

Hospitals in large metropolitan central counties
Mean 1998-2000: 55.6 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 66.5 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 34.1 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 38.4 minutes

Hospitals in large metropolitan fringe counties
Mean 1998-2000: 54.1 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 52.1 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 29.3 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 30.6 minutes

Hospitals in medium and small metropolitan counties
Mean 1998-2000: 42 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 55.8 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 24.7 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 32.7 minutes

Hospitals in micropolitan counties (town/city)
Mean 1998-2000: 27.3 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 43.6 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 14.9 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 27.3 minutes

Hospitals in rural counties
Mean 1998-2000: 22.7 minutes
Mean 2008-2010: 33.2 minutes

Median 1998-2000: 11 minutes
Median 2008-2010: 19.5 minutes

More Articles on ED Utilization:

CDC: Percentage of Annual ED Visits Stable 2001-2011
Study: Disabled Patients Who Can't Afford Medications Go to ED More
10 Statistics on Hospital Admissions From the ED