MS has among shortest ER wait times in the US, study shows. Here’s where it ranks & why
Mississippi has one of the shortest emergency room wait times in the United States, according to a recent study.
On average, ER patients in the U.S. have to wait 2 hours and 35 minutes, according to the September study by Nursa, a health staffing platform. The average wait time for Mississippians is 2 hours and 9 minutes, about 17% shorter than the national average, according to the study.
Here’s what plays a part in ER patients’ wait time in Mississippi and how it compares to other states in the country.
What contributes to Mississippi’s ER wait time?
Although Mississippi has the fourth highest rate of emergency room visits in the country, at 567 visits per 1,000 people, the state still has one of the shortest wait times for ER patients, according to Nursa.
The Magnolia state is tied with Minnesota for the ninth shortest wait time in the U.S., researchers said.
The following are factors that contribute to ER patients’ wait time in the state, according a separate study by Nursa:
- Nurses: 9.8 per 1,000 people
- Physicians: 2.3 per 1,000 people
- Hospital beds: 3.9 per 1,000 people
Which states have the shortest ER wait times?
These 10 states have the shortest wait times for emergency room patients, according to Nursa.
1. North Dakota
2. Nebraska
3. Tie between South Dakota and Hawaii
5. Oklahoma
6. Kansas
7. Iowa
8. Montana
9. Tie between Mississippi and Minnesota
Which states have the longest ER wait times?
Emergency room patients in the following 11 states have the longest wait times, according to Nursa.
1. Maryland
2. Tie between Rhode Island and Massachusetts
4. Delaware
5. Connecticut
6. New York
7. North Carolina
8. Vermont
9. New Jersey
10. California and Pennsylvania
How did health staffing platform conduct study?
Nursa analyzed emergency room visit data collected in September 2025 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,the Kaiser Family Foundation, Becker’s Hospital Review and the Health Resources & Services Administration to rank states by wait times, researchers said.
