U.S. emergency departments record 140 million visits on an annualized basis. The average cost reaches 2,600 dollars per visit. Uncompensated care totals 42 billion dollars while 15.4 percent of admitted patients return within 30 days.
Key Takeaways
- Average ER cost per visit: $2,600 in 2022, up 12% from 2020
- Uncompensated care in ERs: $42 billion annually 2021
- Medicare ER reimbursement rate: 80% of costs, average $1,800 per visit
- In 2021, falls caused 3.2 million ER visits among seniors 65+, 32% of their total visits
- Traumatic brain injuries led to 2.8 million ER visits in 2020, 70% mild concussions
- Motor vehicle crash ER visits: 2.4 million in 2021, with 25% involving alcohol
- National average ER wait time for low-acuity patients was 28 minutes in 2022
- Median door-to-doctor time in ERs: 21 minutes for 2021, varying by region 15-35 min
- Boarding time for admitted patients averaged 4.3 hours in 2022 urban ERs
- In 2021, U.S. emergency departments recorded 131.0 million visits, a 4.5% decrease from 2019 pre-pandemic levels
- Emergency room visits among adults aged 65+ increased by 3.2% annually from 2016-2020, reaching 22.4 million in 2020
- Pediatric ER visits (under 18) totaled 28.6 million in 2019, with 15% classified as non-urgent
- Average RN staffing in ER: 2.8 per 1,000 visits nationally 2022
- Physician coverage: 24/7 in 85% of hospitals, but 1:2,500 visits ratio in rural
- ER nurse turnover rate: 19.5% annually 2022, highest in urban
ER visits average $2,600 in cost while uncompensated care totals $42 billion yearly, straining emergency care.
Related reading
01 · Category
Costs And Outcomes10 stats
01
Average ER cost per visit: $2,600in 2022, up 12% from 2020
02
Uncompensated care in ERs: $42 billion annually 2021
03
Medicare ER reimbursement rate: 80% of costs, average $1,800 per visit
04
30-day mortality post-ER admission for MI: 5.2% in 2021
05
Sepsis mortality from ER: 15.8% in-hospital 2022
06
ER-admit readmission rate 30 days: 15.4% national average
07
Average charge for ER chest pain workup: $4,100uninsured 2022
08
Opioid prescribing at discharge: 5% of visits, down 40% since 2016
09
Infection rate from ER procedures: 0.3% for lacerations 2021
10
Survival to discharge for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest arriving ER: 10.4% 2022
Interpretation
Costs And Outcomes Interpretation
For the Costs And Outcomes lens, ER spending keeps rising with the average cost per visit reaching $2,600 in 2022, up 12% from 2020, while major outcomes remain concerning such as 15.8% sepsis in hospital mortality in 2022 and 5.2% 30 day mortality after MI in 2021.
02 · Category
Injury And Illness28 stats
01
In 2021, falls caused 3.2 million ER visits among seniors 65+, 32% of their total visits
02
Traumatic brain injuries led to 2.8 million ER visits in 2020, 70% mild concussions
03
Motor vehicle crash ER visits: 2.4 million in 2021, with 25% involving alcohol
04
Heart attack ER presentations: 805,000 annually, 45% STEMI cases
05
Stroke ER visits: 795,000 per year, with 87% ischemic type
06
Appendicitis ER diagnoses: 250,000 cases yearly, 7% perforated at arrival
07
Sepsis ER admissions: 1.7 million annually, 20% mortality post-ER
08
Asthma exacerbations in ER: 2.1 million visits yearly, 10% requiring ICU
09
Pneumonia ER visits: 1.3 million in adults 18+, 15% hospitalized
10
Diabetic emergencies (hypo/hyperglycemia): 500,000 ER visits yearly
11
Kidney stone ER presentations: 1 million annually, 60% requiring imaging
12
Migraine ER visits: 1.2 million yearly, 75% female patients
13
Cellulitis/soft tissue infections: 2.5 million ER visits in 2019
14
Allergic reactions/anaphylaxis: 200,000 ER visits yearly, 50% food-triggered
15
Abdominal pain ER chief complaint: 7.1 million visits annually, 40% female
16
Chest pain ER evaluations: 8.9 million yearly, 10% ACS confirmed
17
Shortness of breath ER visits: 3.8 million annually, 30% respiratory cause
18
Fever in children under 2: 2 million ER visits yearly
19
Laceration repairs in ER: 9 million annually, 20% facial
20
Sprains/strains: 2.1 million sports-related ER visits for ages 5-24
21
Burn injuries: 1.1 million ER visits yearly, 70% minor thermal
22
Poisoning exposures: 2.4 million calls to poison control leading to 100,000 ER visits
23
Drowning near-drownings: 7,000 ER visits yearly in kids under 5
24
Assault-related ER visits: 1.5 million annually, 40% females
25
UTI ER visits in women: 3 million yearly, 25% requiring antibiotics IV
26
Gout flares: 1.5 million ER visits annually, mostly males over 50
27
Pancreatitis ER admissions: 250,000 yearly, 50% alcohol-related
28
Diverticulitis ER diagnoses: 200,000 annually, 30% perforated cases
Interpretation
Injury And Illness Interpretation
Across Injury and Illness ER visits, falls stand out in seniors with 3.2 million visits in 2021 making up 32% of their total, while other leading conditions like 2.4 million motor vehicle crash visits in 2021 and 2.8 million traumatic brain injury visits in 2020 underscore how common preventable injuries drive emergency care.
03 · Category
Operational Metrics24 stats
01
National average ER wait time for low-acuity patients was 28 minutes in 2022
02
Median door-to-doctor time in ERs: 21 minutes for 2021, varying by region 15-35 min
03
Boarding time for admitted patients averaged 4.3 hours in 2022 urban ERs
04
Triage accuracy rate: 92% correct acuity assignment in Level 1-5 scale
05
Left without being seen (LWBS) rate: 2.1% nationally in 2021, higher in urban 3.5%
06
Average ER length of stay: 2.7 hours for discharged patients in 2022
07
Overcrowding days per year: 45 in average urban ER, per 2021 survey
08
Bed turnover rate: 4.2 patients per bed per day in high-volume ERs
09
CT scan usage in ER: 15% of visits, median time to scan 2.1 hours
10
Lab turnaround time average: 45 minutes for stat CBC in 2022
11
Telemedicine ER consults: 12% of visits in 2023, reducing transfer by 25%
12
Pain score documentation rate: 98% compliance in Joint Commission accredited ERs
13
Hand hygiene compliance in ER: 82% during 2022 audits
14
Readmission within 72 hours from ER: 3.4% rate nationally
15
Ambulance diversion hours: reduced to <1% post-2010 mandates
16
Patient satisfaction score ( Press Ganey): 78/100 average for ERs in 2022
17
Throughput time for stroke code: 45 minutes door-to-needle in certified centers
18
Sepsis bundle compliance: 75% within 3 hours in 2021 ERs
19
Average wait for Level 3 (urgent) patients: 45 minutes median 2022
20
Diversion for psych holds: 15% of ER time in urban areas 2022
21
Electronic health record usage: 96% of ERs fully implemented by 2023
22
Nurse-to-patient ratio peak hours: 1:4 average in 2022 surveys
23
Code blue response time: 2.5 minutes average in ERs 2021
24
Medication error rate in ER: 0.9 per 100 orders 2022
Interpretation
Operational Metrics Interpretation
Operationally, ERs appear to be running faster and more consistently with door-to-doctor times averaging 21 minutes in 2021 and an average discharged length of stay of 2.7 hours in 2022, while key bottlenecks remain visible in boarding at 4.3 hours for admitted patients in urban settings.
More related reading
04 · Category
Patient Volume30 stats
01
In 2021, U.S. emergency departments recorded 131.0 million visits, a 4.5% decrease from 2019 pre-pandemic levels
02
Emergency room visits among adults aged 65+ increased by 3.2% annually from 2016-2020, reaching 22.4 million in 2020
03
Pediatric ER visits (under 18) totaled 28.6 million in 2019, with 15% classified as non-urgent
04
Urban ERs handled 72% of all national visits in 2022, averaging 45,000 visits per facility
05
During 2020 COVID peak, ER visits fell 42% in March-April compared to 2019 baseline
06
Rural ERs saw 12.3 million visits in 2021, up 2.1% from 2020 despite closures
07
ER visits for mental health crises rose 18% from 2019-2022, totaling 7.2 million annually by 2022
08
Weekend ER visits comprised 28% of total annual volume, peaking at 11 PM on Saturdays
09
In 2023 Q1, national ER visits rebounded to 140 million annualized rate post-Omicron
10
Females accounted for 55.3% of all ER visits in 2021, with higher rates for abdominal pain
11
ER visits by uninsured patients dropped 15% from 2019-2021 due to Medicaid expansions
12
Night shift (8 PM-4 AM) ER visits averaged 35% of daily total in urban hospitals
13
Seasonal peak in ER visits occurs December-February at 108% of annual average
14
ER visits via ambulance transport: 16.2 million in 2020, 12% of total visits
15
In California, ER visits reached 10.2 million in 2022, led by LA County at 2.1 million
16
New York State ERs logged 8.7 million visits in 2021, with NYC at 65% share
17
Texas ER network handled 11.5 million visits in 2022, averaging 92,000 per 100k population
18
Florida's ER visits totaled 9.8 million in 2021, spiking 25% post-hurricanes
19
Veterans Affairs ERs saw 2.3 million visits in FY2022, up 8% from 2021
20
Military ER visits (TRICARE) averaged 4.1 million annually 2018-2022
21
Tribal health ER visits: 1.2 million in 2021, with 40% injury-related
22
Prison ER visits per 1,000 inmates: 450 annually in 2020 federal system
23
College campus ER visits: 150,000 annually nationwide, 25% alcohol-related
24
Workplace injury ER visits: 900,000 in 2021 BLS data
25
Sports-related ER visits: 2.7 million yearly for ages 5-24
26
Heat-related ER visits: 250,000 annually average 2001-2020
27
Opioid overdose ER visits: 1.1 million in 2021, up 30% from 2019
28
Gunshot wound ER visits: 85,000 in 2022, highest on record
29
Animal bite ER visits: 800,000 yearly, 50% dog-related
30
Food poisoning ER visits: 128,000 annually from known pathogens
Interpretation
Patient Volume Interpretation
Despite pandemic disruptions, emergency department patient volume largely rebounded, with rural ER visits reaching 12.3 million in 2021 up 2.1% from 2020 while the national total was still 131.0 million visits in 2021 only 4.5% below the 2019 pre-pandemic level.
05 · Category
Staffing And Capacity20 stats
01
Average RN staffing in ER: 2.8 per 1,000 visits nationally 2022
02
Physician coverage: 24/7 in 85% of hospitals, but 1:2,500 visits ratio in rural
03
ER nurse turnover rate: 19.5% annually 2022, highest in urban
04
Capacity utilization: 112% average occupancy in overcrowded ERs 2021
05
Number of ER beds per 100,000 pop: 25.3 nationally, 18.2 rural
06
ED physicians FTE: 45,000 nationwide in 2022, shortage of 10%
07
PA/NP usage in ER: 30% of visits staffed by midlevels 2023
08
Ventilator capacity in ERs: average 4 per department, 85% occupied peak COVID
09
Surge capacity activation: 72% of ERs in 2022 flu season
10
Training hours for ER nurses: 120 annually required, compliance 91%
11
Locum tenens usage: 25% of ER shifts in rural 2022
12
Burnout rate among ER docs: 60% in 2022 survey
13
Total ERs in US: 5,200 in 2023, down 7% since 2010
14
Observation unit beds: present in 60% ERs, averaging 8 beds
15
Fast-track area utilization: 45% of low-acuity volume in equipped ERs
16
Ancillary staff (techs): 1.5 per RN average 2022
17
Psychiatrist on-call availability: 24/7 in 40% ERs 2022
18
Trauma surgeon response time: <15 min in Level 1 centers, 95% compliance
19
Social worker consults: 15% of ER visits, average response 45 min
20
Pharmacy satellite hours: 18/24 average in large ERs
Interpretation
Staffing And Capacity Interpretation
For the Staffing And Capacity picture, ERs are running lean and overloaded with average RN staffing at just 2.8 per 1,000 visits in 2022 and crowded conditions pushing average occupancy to 112% in 2021, alongside a 10% ED physician shortage and only 18.2 beds per 100,000 people in rural areas.
report visual · Comparison
Emergency Department Outcomes & Utilization: Key Measures
Mortality, readmissions, and visit outcomes highlight the clinical burden seen through ER pathways alongside utilization pressures.
Capacity utilization: 112% average occupancy in overcrowded ERs 2021112%
ER-admit readmission rate 30 days: 15.4% national average
15.4%
30-day mortality post-ER admission for MI: 5.2% in 2021
5.2%
Left without being seen (LWBS) rate: 2.1% nationally in 2021, higher in urban 3.5%
2.1%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Emergency Room Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/emergency-room-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Emergency Room Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/emergency-room-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Emergency Room Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/emergency-room-statistics.
Sources & references
65 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level