How is the current waiting time calculated?

The current waiting time is the actual length of time from registration to having a physician assigned to the case.  We like to refer to this as our "door to doc" time. The time listed on the Web site is the average "door to doc" time for the past two hours. Times are subject to change without notice. There are many circumstances that affect wait times. When patients arrive by ambulance, they tend to be very sick and require our immediate attention. Patients who arrive with life threatening and more serious injuries and ailments are seen before those with non-life threatening problems.

Why do some patients get seen first, even if they arrived after me?

Walk-in patients will first be seen by a triage nurse.  The nurse will ask some questions about how your are feeling and take vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse rate, breathing rate, and temperature. Your vital signs and a number of other factors will determine how quickly they need to be seen.  Patients who arrive with life threatening and more serious injuries and ailments are seen before those with non-life threatening problems.