Massachusetts ranks fourth in nation for longest emergency room wait times

According to a recent study, Massachusetts ranks fourth in the nation for the longest emergency room wait times, with an average wait of 3 hours and 34 minutes. This is 89 minutes over the national average of 2 hours and 5 minutes.

The study was conducted by Blue Goat Cyber, and utilized data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ranking states based on median time patients spent in the emergency room before discharge, using the latest data available as of April 2024.

Why are ER wait times so long in Massachusetts?

Hospital administrators in Massachusetts attribute the lengthy ER wait times to staffing shortages and a surge in patient volume, both of which have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a report by the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, in October 2022, there were approximately 19,000 unfilled acute care hospital positions throughout the state.

State administrators also report that staffing shortages have been exacerbated by a backlog of patients who delayed seeking medical care during the pandemic. These patients are now presenting with more severe health conditions, significantly increasing the demand for emergency services.

Additionally, hospitals in Massachusetts are prioritizing elective surgeries, which are generally more profitable than emergency care. This focus on elective procedures can lead to longer wait times for ER patients as hospitals allocate resources to maximize profitability. During the pandemic, elective surgeries were temporarily suspended, resulting in significant revenue losses for hospitals. As a result, many hospitals are now trying to recoup these losses by emphasizing elective procedures, which can be scheduled in advance and provide a more consistent income stream​.

Which states have higher wait times than Massachusetts?

According to the study, the state with the longest ER wait times in the nation is Maryland, where patients wait an average of 4 hours and 9 minutes. Pennsylvania came in second with a wait time of 3 hours and 37 minutes, and Rhode Island ranked third with 3 hours and 36 minutes. Missouri rounds out the top five with a wait time of 3 hours and 31 minutes.

Which states have the shortest ER wait times?

Mississippi has the shortest ER wait time, with patients waiting only 1 hour and 47 minutes, nearly 20 minutes below the national average. Nebraska and Louisiana also have some of the shortest wait times, averaging 1 hour and 48 minutes and 1 hour and 49 minutes, respectively.

Here is the full list of states ranked from longest to shortest average ER wait times:

1. Maryland – 249 minutes
2. Pennsylvania – 217 minutes
3. Rhode Island – 216 minutes
4. Massachusetts – 214 minutes
5. Missouri – 211 minutes
6. Arizona – 198 minutes
7. Oregon – 196 minutes
8. New Jersey – 194 minutes
9. Delaware – 192 minutes
10. North Carolina – 190 minutes
11. Connecticut – 185 minutes
12. California – 183 minutes
13. Minnesota – 182 minutes
14. Vermont – 179 minutes
15. Wyoming – 178 minutes
16. Maine – 175 minutes
17. Virginia – 175 minutes
18. Georgia – 167 minutes
19. Florida – 166 minutes
20. New Hampshire – 166 minutes
21. North Dakota – 161 minutes
22. Tennessee – 160 minutes
23. Oklahoma – 158 minutes
24. Michigan – 156 minutes
25. Hawaii – 155 minutes
26. Nevada – 145 minutes
27. Utah – 145 minutes
28. Idaho – 144 minutes
29. Alaska – 142 minutes
30. Washington – 137 minutes
31. New York – 135 minutes
32. Illinois – 133 minutes
33. New Mexico – 132 minutes
34. Wisconsin – 132 minutes
35. Arkansas – 131 minutes
36. Ohio – 130 minutes
37. Montana – 129 minutes
38. South Carolina – 129 minutes
39. West Virginia – 128 minutes
40. Colorado – 126 minutes
41. Kentucky – 126 minutes
42. Alabama – 122 minutes
43. Kansas – 122 minutes
44. Indiana – 121 minutes
45. Texas – 120 minutes
46. South Dakota – 112 minutes
47. Iowa – 110 minutes
48. Louisiana – 109 minutes
49. Nebraska – 108 minutes
50. Mississippi – 107 minutes