Distribution of wait times to see a physician in ED in the U.S. in 2021
In 2021, the large majority of emergency department (ED) visits in the United States were seen to by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), or physician assistant in less than an hour. Of these, some 42 percent of ED visits waited 15 minutes or less. Meanwhile, one percent (that is roughly 1,331 visits) of ED visits waited four to six hours before being seen.