News Summary
Patients seeking emergency care at Penn’s primary hospitals in Philadelphia are facing some of the longest wait times in the region. Recent data shows that both Penn Presbyterian Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania have particularly high average wait times, exceeding the Philadelphia-area average. Contributing factors include patient volume, hospital capacity, and case complexity. As hospitals continue to manage increased demand, these extended wait times urge a closer look at regional health service delivery.
Philadelphia – Patients seeking emergency care at two of Penn’s primary on-campus hospitals in Philadelphia can expect some of the longest wait times in the region. Recent data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2023-24 indicates that Penn Presbyterian Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) ranked second and fifth, respectively, for emergency room wait times among Philadelphia-area hospitals.
Understanding the Wait Times
On average, patients visiting a Penn-affiliated hospital in the Philadelphia region can anticipate a wait of approximately four hours for emergency treatment. More specifically, HUP recorded an average wait time of four hours and 33 minutes, while Penn Presbyterian Hospital saw an average of four hours and 43 minutes. Pennsylvania Hospital, another Penn affiliate, had an average wait time of three hours and 48 minutes. These figures place all three Penn hospitals above the average wait time for a Philadelphia-area hospital, which was just over three and a half hours last year.
Compared to a broader regional and national context, emergency room visits in the Philadelphia area generally take longer. In 2022, half of all ER visits in the region lasted nearly 3.5 hours, which is 47 minutes longer than the national median of 2 hours and 41 minutes, according to CMS hospital quality measures. Pennsylvania as a state also experiences lengthy ER wait times, tying with California for the ninth longest average ER wait time nationwide at 3 hours.
Factors Contributing to Extended Waits
Several factors can influence the duration of emergency room visits. These include the number of patients seeking care, the overall capacity of the hospital, staffing levels, and the severity of individual patient cases. Longer stays in the emergency department can sometimes signal issues like understaffing or overcrowding, which may lead to delays in treatment. Additionally, the complexity of cases, often involving consultations with various specialists to determine the safest and most effective treatment, can extend the time a patient spends in the ER. This is particularly true for academic medical centers like those within Penn Medicine, which often handle a wider mix of complex patient conditions.
The time a patient spends in the emergency department can also be affected by their diagnosis and how busy the hospital is at any given moment. To improve efficiency, some hospitals may initiate testing for patients even while they are still in the waiting room, allowing providers to make quicker diagnoses upon seeing the patient.
Care Outcomes and Regional Context
Beyond wait times, the CMS data for 2024 also highlighted variations in care outcomes across Penn-affiliated hospitals. For instance, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania provided appropriate care to 76% of patients experiencing septic shock, a critical condition. In comparison, Penn Presbyterian provided such care to 40% of patients, and Pennsylvania Hospital to 48% of patients. In other areas of care, outcomes at Penn-affiliated hospitals were largely comparable.
Across the Philadelphia region, emergency department visits lengthened at three out of every four hospitals between 2021 and 2024. Roxborough Memorial Hospital has been noted for having some of the shortest average ER wait times in Philadelphia, at 2.5 hours. Conversely, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has also been identified as having the longest average ER wait time in Philadelphia at 4.7 hours.
Community Health Needs
Hospitals are mandated to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years to maintain their non-profit status. These assessments are crucial for identifying regional health priorities and guiding hospitals in developing programs and services that address community needs. The Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Regional CHNA, for example, is a collaborative effort involving multiple area health systems, including Penn Medicine, to assess population health and social needs and engage community voices. Key health issues identified in these assessments often include chronic disease prevention and management, mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and access to and quality of healthcare.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the average emergency room wait times at Penn’s primary on-campus hospitals in Philadelphia?
- Patients at Penn Presbyterian Hospital can expect an average wait time of four hours and 43 minutes, while those at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) can expect an average of four hours and 33 minutes.
- How do these wait times compare to the Philadelphia-area average?
- All three Penn hospitals (Penn Presbyterian, HUP, and Pennsylvania Hospital) have average wait times that are above the Philadelphia-area average of just over three and a half hours.
- What factors contribute to long emergency room wait times?
- Factors influencing ER wait times include the number of patients, hospital capacity, staffing levels, and the severity and complexity of patient cases.
- Is Pennsylvania’s ER wait time longer than the national average?
- Yes, emergency room visits in the Philadelphia area typically take almost an hour longer than reported by hospitals nationally. Additionally, Pennsylvania as a state tied with California for the ninth longest average ER wait time nationwide at 3 hours.
- Are Community Health Needs Assessments regularly conducted by hospitals?
- Yes, non-profit hospitals are required to complete a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and an implementation plan every three years to retain their non-profit status.
Key Features of ER Wait Times in Philadelphia
| Hospital/Region | Average ER Wait Time | Ranking (Philadelphia Area) | Data Source/Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Presbyterian Hospital | 4 hours, 43 minutes | 2nd highest | CMS 2023-24 |
| Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) | 4 hours, 33 minutes | 5th highest | CMS 2023-24 |
| Pennsylvania Hospital (Penn affiliate) | 3 hours, 48 minutes | Above local average | CMS 2023-24 |
| Philadelphia-area average | Just over 3.5 hours | N/A | CMS 2023-24 |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital | 2.5 hours | Shortest (Philadelphia) | Latest available data |
| Pennsylvania (State-level) | 3 hours | 9th longest (Nationwide) | Recent report |
| National Median | 2 hours, 41 minutes | N/A | CMS 2022 |
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Author: STAFF HERE PHILADELPHIA WRITER
The PHILADELPHIA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPhiladelphia.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Mummers Parade, Philadelphia Flower Show, and Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Philadelphia, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, food services, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Comcast, Aramark, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Pennsylvania's dynamic landscape.
