New Study Reveals Michigan’s Startling ER Wait Times

If you've ever sat in a Michigan emergency room staring at the TV that's somehow always tuned to a cooking show while you're clutching an ice pack, you're familiar with the vibe. Bring patience... and a phone charger.

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According to new research conducted by FHV Legal, the average ER wait time in Michigan is about 2 hours and 40 minutes before patients see a provider. That delay helped push Michigan to the 9th riskiest state in the U.S. for delayed diagnosis.

Why Michigan ER Waits Can Be So Long

The study also found that about 3% of Michigan patients leave the ER without being seen, often because the wait drags on long enough to test anyone's patience. Michigan hospitals also show a 14.84% readmission rate, which researchers say indicates incomplete diagnoses or patients being discharged too soon.

Medical malpractice attorney Daniel Harwin of FHV Legal says these delays often point to a strained healthcare workforce, in which fewer providers are able to keep up with a growing number of patients.

The Best (and Worst) Times to Go to the ER

Now, obviously, emergencies don't schedule themselves. Nobody plans their appendix to explode between meetings. But the healthcare professionals from Figure 1 say timing can affect how long you wait.

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A research survey of more than 17,000 healthcare workers suggests the best times to visit the ER are the early morning hours, when patient volume is typically lowest. Evenings, weekends, and Mondays tend to be the busiest times, thanks to weekend-warrior injuries and people finally seeking care after attempting to tough it out.