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The Longest ER Wait Times in the U.S.: Top 10 States to Watch Out For

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At some point in our lives, a visit to the emergency room becomes inevitable. Based on recent data, these are the top 10 states where patients experience the longest waiting times before receiving care. It’s beneficial to be aware, especially if you reside in or plan to move to one of these states.

Maryland

Emergency room sign.
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Maryland leads the nation in having the lengthiest ER wait times, with patients typically waiting for 4 hours and 2 minutes before leaving. This issue persists despite Maryland’s renowned medical facilities, such as Johns Hopkins Hospital, due to a significant nursing shortage, with 25% of hospital nursing positions remaining unfilled.

Rhode Island

rhode island.
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Rhode Island takes the second spot, with an average ER wait time of 3 hours and 34 minutes, even though it has 19 hospitals serving a population of just over one million residents.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts.
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Massachusetts ranks third, with an average ER wait time of 3 hours and 33 minutes. The state has grappled with hospital staff shortages, leading to a reliance on travel nurses and higher turnover rates.

Delaware

Emergency room image.
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Delaware comes in fourth, with an average ER wait time of 3 hours and 30 minutes. The state faces not only extended wait times but also a lack of hospitals with a grade A rating for overall medical facility performance.

New York

Emergency room image with stretcher.
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New York secures the fifth position with an average ER wait time of 3 hours and 21 minutes. The state has several grade D hospitals and one grade F hospital, the lowest possible rating for hospital performance.

Arizona

Arizona.
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Arizona occupies the sixth position, with an average ER wait time of 3 hours and 13 minutes. Remarkably, the state allocates only $79 per person for public health, one of the lowest rates in the U.S.

New Jersey

NJ shore.
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In seventh place is New Jersey, with patients waiting an average of 3 hours and 11 minutes in the ER. New Jersey’s hospitals are grappling with severe understaffing, and the state anticipates a shortage of 11,400 nurses by 2030.

Connecticut

CT.
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Connecticut holds the eighth place, with an average ER wait time of 3 hours and 2 minutes. Despite boasting five of the nation’s top hospitals, including Yale New Haven Hospital, Connecticut’s healthcare costs are among the highest in the country.

Pennsylvania & California

PA and CA.
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Pennsylvania and California share the ninth position, with an average ER wait time of 3 hours. Pennsylvania’s rural communities face limited healthcare options due to physician shortages in rural hospitals. California has experienced a decline in the number of emergency departments over the past decade, while demand for medical assistance continues to grow.

Vermont

Vermont in fall.
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Vermont closes the top ten with patients spending an average of 2 hours and 58 minutes in the ER.

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Emergency room sign.
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Sheetz Store 1.
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woman disgusted at food.
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