Which Area ER Has the Longest Wait Times?

If you go to the emergency room in Connecticut, how long will it take before you see a medical professional? 

The federal government says 31 minutes on average.

But that’s better than the wait at Hartford Hospital (80 minutes) or Bridgeport Hospital (86 minutes), according to a new database causing some hospital officials nationwide to cringe.

Nearby Griffin Hospital came in just above the state and national average in that category — 37 minutes. (See how the hospital compares in other critical areas using the interactive map and graphic above.)

Key measures of ER efficiency have been posted from hospitals taking part across the country, according to a report by Cheryl Clark, senior quality editor for HealthLeaders Media.

“With precious little fanfare, Uncle Sam last month rolled out a big, fat database with seven measures comparing a service that many people — healthcare providers and patients alike — consider the most critical any hospital can provide,” Clark wrote.

Data collected in 2011 and early 2012 also tracked how long the wait was to get a bed if they needed admission and the percentage of patients that left the ER before being seen. Other data showed how long patients spent in the ER before being sent home and how long before patients with broken bones received pain medication.

Clark interviewed Dr. Jesse Pines, an emergency room doctor and researcher who directs the center for healthcare quality at George Washington University.

“The theory is that when hospitals report this information, it makes them focus on it, and improve throughout their [Emergency Department],” Pines was quoted as saying.

“But it’s very hard to do. Certain performance measures are easier to fix — like simple process measures like giving patients an aspirin — than improving ED throughput, which involves development of interdisciplinary teams.”

Residents can compare the ER care for all Connecticut hospitals in the national database on the Hospital Compare website. Type in a ZIP code, city or local hospital, then choose two or three hospitals to compare side-by-side.