Emergency rooms · Georgia
ER Wait Times in Georgia: 121 Hospitals Compared
121 hospitals in Georgia report how long their emergency room patients stay. The middle value here is 162 minutes; national (Medicare): 162 minutes.
In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not drive farther to save a few minutes: these are averages of past visits, and the sickest patients are always seen first.
What this time means
Each hospital’s number is Medicare measure OP-18b: the median (middle) time from arriving at the emergency room to leaving it, for patients who were treated and went home. Half of these patients left sooner, half later. It is not the time before seeing a doctor, and it leaves out patients who were admitted to the hospital, transferred, or seen for mental health.
Medicare’s name for the measure: “Average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, excluding patients transferred to another facility or psychiatric care/mental health patients. A lower number of minutes is better”. Patients seen October 2024 to September 2025.
Emergency rooms in Georgia, shortest time first
Ranked by Medicare's median time (OP-18b), shortest first; hospitals with the same time share a rank. Left without being seen: share of ER patients who left before a doctor or nurse saw them (January 2024 to December 2024; national 2%). ER volume: patients per year, as Medicare groups it.
| # | Hospital | City | Median time in the ER | Left without being seen | ER volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Optim Medical Center - Tattnall | Reidsville | 66 min (1 h 6 min) | Not reported | — |
| 2 | Archbold Brooks | Quitman | 74 min (1 h 14 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 3 | Warm Springs Medical Center | Warm Springs | 75 min (1 h 15 min) | Not reported | — |
| 4 | Jasper Memorial Hospital | Monticello | 84 min (1 h 24 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 4 | SGMC Health Lanier | Lakeland | 84 min (1 h 24 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 6 | Miller County Hospital | Colquitt | 85 min (1 h 25 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 7 | SGMC Berrien Campus | Nashville | 92 min (1 h 32 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 8 | Optim Medical Center - Screven | Sylvania | 93 min (1 h 33 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 9 | Clinch Memorial Hospital | Homerville | 94 min (1 h 34 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 10 | Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center | Cedartown | 96 min (1 h 36 min) | 0% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 11 | Jenkins County Medical Center | Millen | 98 min (1 h 38 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 12 | Jefferson Hospital | Louisville | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 13 | Lifebrite Community Hospital of Early | Blakely | 100 min (1 h 40 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 14 | Morgan Medical Center | Madison | 103 min (1 h 43 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 15 | Phoebe Worth Medical Center | Sylvester | 104 min (1 h 44 min) | Not reported | — |
| 15 | Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center, LLC | Lavonia | 104 min (1 h 44 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 17 | Wellstar Sylvan Grove Medical Center | Jackson | 105 min (1 h 45 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 17 | Wills Memorial Hospital | Washington | 105 min (1 h 45 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 19 | Appling Healthcare | Baxley | 106 min (1 h 46 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 19 | Dwight Eisenhower AMC (FT Gordon) | Fort Gordon | 106 min (1 h 46 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 21 | Jeff Davis Hospital | Hazlehurst | 108 min (1 h 48 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 22 | Archbold Mitchell | Camilla | 109 min (1 h 49 min) | Not reported | — |
| 22 | Mountain Lakes Medical Center | Clayton | 109 min (1 h 49 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 24 | Candler County Hospital | Metter | 110 min (1 h 50 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 25 | Commonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia | Ringgold | 118 min (1 h 58 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 25 | Washington County Regional Medical Center | Sandersville | 118 min (1 h 58 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 27 | Burke Medical Center | Waynesboro | 120 min (2 h) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 28 | St Marys Good Samaritan Hospital | Greensboro | 122 min (2 h 2 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 29 | Putnam General Hospital | Eatonton | 123 min (2 h 3 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 30 | Higgins General Hospital | Bremen | 126 min (2 h 6 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 31 | Bleckley Memorial Hospital | Cochran | 127 min (2 h 7 min) | Not reported | — |
| 31 | Memorial Satilla Health | Waycross | 127 min (2 h 7 min) | 0% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 33 | East Georgia Regional Medical Center | Statesboro | 130 min (2 h 10 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 33 | St Mary's Hospital | Athens | 130 min (2 h 10 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 33 | Stephens County Hospital | Toccoa | 130 min (2 h 10 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 36 | Effingham Health System | Springfield | 134 min (2 h 14 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 36 | Memorial Health Meadows Hospital | Vidalia | 134 min (2 h 14 min) | 0% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 36 | NGMC Barrow, LLC | Winder | 134 min (2 h 14 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 39 | Evans Memorial Hospital | Claxton | 136 min (2 h 16 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 40 | Fairview Park Hospital | Dublin | 138 min (2 h 18 min) | 0% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 41 | University McDuffie County Regional Medical Center | Thomson | 141 min (2 h 21 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 42 | Piedmont Walton Hospital | Monroe | 142 min (2 h 22 min) | 0% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 43 | Martin ACH (FT Benning) | Fort Benning | 143 min (2 h 23 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 44 | AdventHealth Murray | Chatsworth | 144 min (2 h 24 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 44 | Grady General Hospital | Cairo | 144 min (2 h 24 min) | 4% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 46 | Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center | Rome | 146 min (2 h 26 min) | 0% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 46 | Tanner Medical Center Villa Rica | Villa Rica | 146 min (2 h 26 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 48 | Monroe County Hospital | Forsyth | 149 min (2 h 29 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 49 | Bacon County Hospital | Alma | 150 min (2 h 30 min) | 4% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 50 | Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham | Demorest | 151 min (2 h 31 min) | 0% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 50 | Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center | Lagrange | 151 min (2 h 31 min) | 0% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 52 | Winn ACH (FT Stewart) | Fort Stewart | 152 min (2 h 32 min) | 5% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 53 | Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Inc | Jasper | 153 min (2 h 33 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 54 | Chatuge Regional Hospital | Hiawassee | 156 min (2 h 36 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 54 | Southeast Georgia Health System -- Camden Campus | Saint Marys | 156 min (2 h 36 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 56 | Dorminy Medical Center | Fitzgerald | 157 min (2 h 37 min) | 4% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 56 | Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lumpkin | Dahlonega | 157 min (2 h 37 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 56 | Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown | Columbus | 157 min (2 h 37 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 59 | Dodge County Hospital | Eastman | 160 min (2 h 40 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 60 | Memorial Hospital and Manor | Bainbridge | 162 min (2 h 42 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 60 | Savannah Health Services LLC dba Memorial Health University Medical Center | Savannah | 162 min (2 h 42 min) | 0% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 62 | Union General Hospital | Blairsville | 165 min (2 h 45 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 63 | Emanuel Medical Center | Swainsboro | 169 min (2 h 49 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 63 | Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center | Cartersville | 169 min (2 h 49 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 65 | AdventHealth Redmond | Rome | 170 min (2 h 50 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 65 | Northside Hospital Forsyth | Cumming | 170 min (2 h 50 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 67 | Atrium Health Navicent Peach | Byron | 173 min (2 h 53 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 67 | Colquitt Regional Medical Center | Moultrie | 173 min (2 h 53 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 67 | Liberty Regional Medical Center | Hinesville | 173 min (2 h 53 min) | Not reported | — |
| 70 | Doctors Hospital | Augusta | 174 min (2 h 54 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 70 | Upson Regional Medical Center | Thomaston | 174 min (2 h 54 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 72 | AdventHealth Gordon | Calhoun | 175 min (2 h 55 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 73 | Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center | Roswell | 176 min (2 h 56 min) | 0% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 74 | Tanner Medical Center - Carrollton | Carrollton | 180 min (3 h) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 75 | Hamilton Medical Center | Dalton | 181 min (3 h 1 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 76 | Atrium Health Navicent the Medical Center | Macon | 182 min (3 h 2 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 77 | Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center | Athens | 183 min (3 h 3 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 78 | Piedmont Eastside Medical Center | Snellville | 184 min (3 h 4 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 79 | Donalsonville Hospital Inc | Donalsonville | 188 min (3 h 8 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 79 | Wayne Memorial Hospital | Jesup | 188 min (3 h 8 min) | Not reported | — |
| 81 | Piedmont Macon North Hospital | Macon | 192 min (3 h 12 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 81 | Wellstar Douglas Medical Center | Douglasville | 192 min (3 h 12 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 81 | Wellstar Spalding Medical Center | Griffin | 192 min (3 h 12 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 84 | Crisp Regional Hospital | Cordele | 194 min (3 h 14 min) | 4% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 85 | Candler Hospital | Savannah | 196 min (3 h 16 min) | 6% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 86 | Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside | Columbus | 200 min (3 h 20 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 86 | Wellstar Paulding Medical Center | Hiram | 200 min (3 h 20 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 88 | Navicent Health Baldwin | Milledgeville | 203 min (3 h 23 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 88 | St Joseph's Hospital - Savannah | Savannah | 203 min (3 h 23 min) | 6% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 90 | Piedmont Augusta Hospital | Augusta | 204 min (3 h 24 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 90 | Piedmont Newnan Hospital, Inc | Newnan | 204 min (3 h 24 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 90 | SGMC Health | Valdosta | 204 min (3 h 24 min) | 4% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 93 | Emory Hillandale Hospital | Lithonia | 205 min (3 h 25 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 94 | Northside Hospital Duluth | Duluth | 207 min (3 h 27 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 95 | Northside Hospital Cherokee | Canton | 208 min (3 h 28 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 96 | Emory Johns Creek Hospital | Johns Creek | 210 min (3 h 30 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 97 | Coffee Regional Medical Center, Inc | Douglas | 215 min (3 h 35 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 98 | Phoebe Sumter Medical Center | Americus | 216 min (3 h 36 min) | 5% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 99 | Piedmont Newton Hospital | Covington | 217 min (3 h 37 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 100 | Emory Decatur Hospital | Decatur | 222 min (3 h 42 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 100 | Piedmont Rockdale Hospital | Conyers | 222 min (3 h 42 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 102 | St Francis Hospital- Emory Healthcare | Columbus | 226 min (3 h 46 min) | 3% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 103 | Northside Hospital | Atlanta | 228 min (3 h 48 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 104 | Coliseum Medical Centers, LLC, dba | Macon | 232 min (3 h 52 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 104 | Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Inc | Gainesville | 232 min (3 h 52 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 106 | Archbold Memorial Hospital | Thomasville | 233 min (3 h 53 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 107 | Piedmont Henry Hospital | Stockbridge | 239 min (3 h 59 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 108 | Emory Houston Hospital Warner Robins | Warner Robins | 240 min (4 h) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 109 | Wellstar MCG Health, Affiliated With Med Col | Augusta | 251 min (4 h 11 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 110 | Piedmont Hospital, Inc | Atlanta | 254 min (4 h 14 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 111 | Tift Regional Medical Center | Tifton | 255 min (4 h 15 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 112 | Wellstar Cobb Medical Center | Austell | 262 min (4 h 22 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 112 | Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center | Marietta | 262 min (4 h 22 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 114 | Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, Inc | Atlanta | 263 min (4 h 23 min) | 3% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 115 | Southern Regional Medical Center | Riverdale | 265 min (4 h 25 min) | 9% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 116 | Northside Hospital Gwinnett | Lawrenceville | 272 min (4 h 32 min) | 3% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 117 | Piedmont Fayette Hospital | Fayetteville | 286 min (4 h 46 min) | 5% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 118 | Emory University Hospital Midtown | Atlanta | 289 min (4 h 49 min) | 6% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 119 | Emory University Hospital | Atlanta | 316 min (5 h 16 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 120 | Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital | Albany | 330 min (5 h 30 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 121 | Grady Memorial Hospital | Atlanta | 357 min (5 h 57 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
ER wait times by city in Georgia
Common questions
Which ER in Georgia has the shortest wait?
In Medicare's data for October 2024 to September 2025, Optim Medical Center - Tattnall had the shortest median time patients spent in the emergency room before going home: 66 minutes. This is the total time of the visit, not the time before seeing a doctor, and it is an average of past patients, not a promise for your visit.
What is the average ER wait time in Georgia?
The middle value of the 121 hospitals listed here is 162 minutes. The national figure published by Medicare is 162 minutes. Each hospital's number is the median time from arriving at the emergency room to leaving it, for patients who were treated and went home.
Should I drive to a farther ER to wait less?
No. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. These times are past averages; emergency rooms see the sickest patients first, and minutes lost on the road can matter more than minutes in a waiting room.
Does a shorter time mean a better emergency room?
Not by itself. Busier emergency rooms and hospitals that treat more serious cases usually have longer times, so the ER volume is shown next to each time. The time is one measure among many on each hospital’s page.
Sources and dates
- Timely and Effective Care - Hospital — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), data updated July 22, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026. Times: patients seen October 2024 to September 2025; left without being seen: January 2024 to December 2024.
- Timely and Effective Care - National — CMS, data updated July 22, 2026 (the national figures).
Only open hospitals that list an emergency room and report this time are included. The state and city figures are the median of the hospitals listed, calculated by us from the same CMS hospital file. Wording last revised November 11, 2026. Not medical advice.