Why the ER Wait?

Sometimes, waiting is hard – especially if you are worried about your health or the wellbeing of a loved one. The number of patients seen in less than 15 minutes comprises 43.5% of ER visits, but other studies report wildly varying numbers on average wait times.

According to U.S. News and World Report, people in South Dakota wait as little as 46 minutes on average, while residents of Washington D.C. stand by for as many as 286 minutes. Unfortunately, extremely long waits lead to health risks, patients giving up and leaving without treatment, overcrowding and dissatisfaction.

Discomfort or worry makes it challenging to be patient. So, why the wait?

One study found that 50% of people who come into the ER could have been helped in other healthcare settings, like urgent care or primary care physician. The International Journal for Quality in Health Care reports a significant amount of these avoidable visits were for conditions that emergency departments don’t generally treat—like mental health and dental problems.

But we can’t assume the person sitting next to us in the ER is in the wrong place. The American Journal of Medical Quality found more than 50% of non-emergency patients contacted a provider first and would have accepted a clinical appointment instead. However, most non-emergent patients are in the ER at their physician’s recommendation.

The other problem is there might not be anywhere else to go. The CDC reports that more than 57% of people seek emergency care when clinics, urgent care and primary care offices are closed.

In addition, ER staff balances a lot of patients and demands. Patients are treated based on the severity of their condition, not by order of arrival. Exaggerating your symptoms, even a little, can complicate your diagnosis and lead to a more prolonged visit. If your symptoms worsen after check-in, advocate for yourself by notifying the staff immediately.

Conditions that warrant an immediate trip to the ER include the following but could include more. Overall, trust your instincts when you think you need help.

• Broken bones and dislocated joints
• Pain in the chest, left arm and/or jaw
• Concussion/confusion
• Facial lacerations
• Fainting
• Fever with a rash
• Head or eye injury
• Vaginal bleeding or pelvic/abdominal pain during pregnancy
• Broken bones
• Seizures
• Serious burns or cuts that won’t stop bleeding or close
• Severe allergic reaction
• Severe cold or flu symptoms
• Shortness of breath
• Stroke symptoms like slurred speech, numbness on one side, facial droop or vision loss
• Vaginal bleeding with pregnancy

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