Rising COVID-19 cases and the start of flu season have hospitals and urgent care centers struggling to keep up with an influx of patients. That’s leading to long wait times for emergency room care.
According to Medicare data, patients are spending an average of 175 minutes getting care in emergency rooms at “very high-volume” hospitals across the country.
In Delaware, the average length of time in those ERs is 199 minutes.
Medicare collects data on the average time patients spend in emergency room visits. That includes wait time and emergency care before a patient is discharged or transferred.
Hospitals ERs are classified by the volume of patients cared for annually:
- Very high-volume, 60,000 plus patients, average Delaware time: 175 minutes
- High volume, 40,000-59,999 patients annually, average Delaware time: 189 minutes
- Medium volume, 20,000-39,999 patients annually, average Delaware time: 199 minutes
Here are the times for Delaware hospitals:
Christiana Hospital, Stanton
Average time: 219 minutes
Volume: Very high
St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington
Average time: 168 minutes
Volume: not available
Nemours Children’s Hospital, Rockland
Average time: not available
Volume: not available
Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus
Average time: 181 minutes
Volume: Very high
Beebe Medical Center, Lewes
Average time: 189 minutes
Volume: High has a current wait time of 189 minutes
Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus
Average time: 173 minutes
Volume: Medium
Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford
Average time: 221 minutes
Volume: Medium
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Wait times are also high at many urgent care centers in Delaware.
ChristianaCare-GoHealth urgent care centers in various locations, including Bear, the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus, Pike Creek and Middletown, have a wait time of more than 120 minutes, according to their websites.
Update:ChristianaCare pauses elective surgeries as Delaware battles COVID-19 surge
Tower Health Urgent Care in Hockessin notes on its website that “COVID-19 testing surges have impacted our walk-in availability” and asks patients to call ahead after 6 p.m.
Need a COVID test?:With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Delaware, here’s the latest on how to get tested
Now that flu season has picked up, many health care facilities are bracing themselves for the influx of flu cases as we move into winter.
“We’re very worried about the flu season. It’s just the beginning. There could be a significant number of cases, some requiring hospitalizations, moving into the new year,” said Wayne Smith, president and CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association.
Flu season is here:Delaware confirms first flu cases of the season, including in a Kent County child
Smith advises all patients to routinely check in with their primary care providers and consult a doctor instead of taking matters into their own hands or delaying care.
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As waiting rooms consistently fill up, staffing shortages continue to put a strain on the health care system and contribute to the increased wait times we are now experiencing.
“Health care employees have been going above and beyond for the last years of the pandemic,” Smith said. “It has resulted in some early retirements, some leaving the field, which has certainly put more pressure than usual on staffing. It’s a concern.”
The state has long dealt with a lack of primary care providers, which became only greater since the onset of the pandemic.
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