Emergency Department Wait Times Up 25% Between 2003 & 2009

In 2009, people visiting an emergency department waited an average of 58.1 minutes before being seen by the emergency department staff, about 25% longer than the 46.5 minute average wait time in 2003. Between 2003 and 2009, the median time before being seen by emergency department staff increased 22%, from 27 minutes to 33 minutes. Between 1999 and 2009, the total number of emergency department visits have increased by 32%, from 102.8 million visits in 1999 to 136.1 million visits in 2009. Patient volume in the emergency department affected mean wait times in 2009, with longer . . .