|

Life or Death: The 10 States With the Longest ER Wait Times

Emergency room visits are an unavoidable aspect of life. Knowing which states have the longest wait times can be crucial, particularly for residents or those considering a move.

Maryland

ER entrance.
Image credit Steve Design via Shutterstock.

Maryland experiences the longest ER wait times in the country, averaging 4 hours and 2 minutes. Despite having top medical facilities like Johns Hopkins Hospital, a significant nursing shortage with 25% of positions unfilled exacerbates the delay.

Rhode Island

rhode-island.
Photo credit: mcdonojj via DepositPhotos.

Ranking second, Rhode Island sees an average ER wait time of 3 hours and 34 minutes, a substantial figure given its small population and 19 hospitals.

Massachusetts

massachusetts fall foliage.
sun ok via Shutterstock.

Massachusetts is third with an average wait of 3 hours and 33 minutes. The state faces challenges such as staff shortages and high turnover, often filling gaps with travel nurses.

Delaware

doctor and patient.
Image credit Monkey Business Images via Shutterstock.

Delaware’s average wait time is 3 hours and 30 minutes, placing it fourth. The state struggles with not only long wait times but also a scarcity of top-rated hospitals.

New York

Emergency-room-image-with-stretcher.
Photo credit: oneinchpunch via DepositPhotos.

In fifth place, New York has an average wait of 3 hours and 21 minutes. The state is notable for having several hospitals rated as poor performers.

Arizona

Arizona.
John D Sirlin via Shutterstock.

Arizona is sixth with a wait time of 3 hours and 13 minutes. The state is distinguished by its minimal public health funding at only $79 per person.

New Jersey

New Jersey.
Mihai_Andritoiu via Shutterstock.

Seventh-ranked New Jersey has an average wait time of 3 hours and 11 minutes. The state faces a critical nurse shortage projected to reach 11,400 by 2030.

Connecticut

Connecticut.
Terelyuk via Shutterstock.

Connecticut ranks eighth, with an average wait time of 3 hours and 2 minutes. Despite having five top hospitals, it has some of the highest healthcare costs in the nation.

Pennsylvania & California

PA-and-CA.
Graphic Queen Zone.

Tied for ninth, both states have an average ER wait time of 3 hours. Pennsylvania deals with healthcare access issues in rural areas, while California has seen a reduction in emergency departments despite rising demand.

Vermont

Vermont.
Image credit Sean Pavone via Shutterstock.

Vermont rounds out the top ten with an average wait time of 2 hours and 58 minutes.

Understanding these wait times is essential for those seeking timely medical care in these states.

Science Tells Us What To Expect As We Age: Strategies For Thriving In Later Life

Beautiful happy older woman.
Image credit Kiselev Andrey Valerevich via Shutterstock.

that pertain to us all. Aging gradually alters people over decades, a long period shaped by individualsโ€™ economic and social circumstances, their behaviors, their neighborhoods, and other factors. Also, while people experience common physiological issues in later life, they donโ€™t follow a well-charted, developmentally predetermined path. Letโ€™s take a look at what science has told us to expect. READ: Science Tells Us What To Expect As We Age: Strategies For Thriving In Later Life

Join Us

The Queen Zone Join Us Feature Image
Image Credit The Queen Zone

Join us on this empowering journey as we explore, celebrate, and elevate โ€œher story.โ€ The Queen Zone is not just a platform; itโ€™s a community where women from all walks of life can come together, share their experiences, and inspire one another. Welcome to a space where the female experience takes center stage. Sign up for our newsletter so you donโ€™t miss a thing, Queen!

Author

  • Dede Wilson Headshot Circle

    Dรฉdรฉ Wilson is a journalist with over 17 cookbooks to her name and is the co-founder and managing partner of the digital media partnership Shift Works Partners LLC, currently publishing through two online media brands, FODMAP Everydayยฎ and The Queen Zone.

    View all posts

Similar Posts