ER wait time is the average length of time from check in until your initial evaluation by a physician. We refer to this as our "door-to-doc" time. While patients are assessed by a triage nurse prior to seeing the physician, the wait time specifically measures door-to-doc. Wait time is not a measure of the overall time you can expect to be in the ER.
Because the posted wait time is an average of the previous two hour timeframe, a patient's individual wait time may vary. Wait times are updated every 20 minutes
There are many circumstances that affect waiting times. If patients arrive by ambulance, they tend to be very sick and require our immediate attention. Patients who arrive with life threatening and more serious injuries and ailments are seen before those with non-life threatening problems.
Why do some patients get seen first, even if they arrived after me?
Walk-in patients will first be seen by a triage nurse. The nurse will ask some questions about how you are feeling and take vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse rate, breathing rate and temperature. Your vital signs and a number of other factors will determine how quickly you need to be seen. Patients who arrive with life threatening and more serious injuries and ailments are seen before those with non-life threatening problems.
Urgent Care vs. Emergency Care
There may be times when you want to see a healthcare provider right away but don't have a serious or life threatening condition. Review this handy checklist for when to choose an urgent care vs. the hospital emergency room. Click here for a list of Renown Urgent Care Locations and open hours.
