Emergency rooms · Iowa
ER Wait Times in Iowa: 112 Hospitals Compared
112 hospitals in Iowa report how long their emergency room patients stay. The middle value here is 119.5 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 Iowa, 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 | Compass Memorial Healthcare | Marengo | 55 min | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 2 | Myrtue Medical Center | Harlan | 61 min (1 h 1 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 3 | Jackson County Regional Health Center | Maquoketa | 77 min (1 h 17 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 4 | Virginia Gay Hospital | Vinton | 79 min (1 h 19 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 5 | Grundy County Memorial Hospital | Grundy Center | 81 min (1 h 21 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 6 | Audubon County Memorial Hospital | Audubon | 84 min (1 h 24 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 7 | Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics | West Union | 85 min (1 h 25 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 8 | Cass County Memorial Hospital | Atlantic | 86 min (1 h 26 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 9 | Iowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond | Belmond | 88 min (1 h 28 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 10 | Mitchell County Regional Health | Osage | 89 min (1 h 29 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 11 | Buchanan County Health Center | Independence | 90 min (1 h 30 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 12 | Henry County Health Center | Mount Pleasant | 91 min (1 h 31 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 12 | Regional Health Services of Howard County | Cresco | 91 min (1 h 31 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 12 | Washington County Hospital and Clinics | Washington | 91 min (1 h 31 min) | Not reported | — |
| 15 | Davis County Hospital | Bloomfield | 96 min (1 h 36 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 15 | Guttenberg Municipal Hospital | Guttenberg | 96 min (1 h 36 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 15 | Sartori Memorial Hospital, Inc | Cedar Falls | 96 min (1 h 36 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 18 | Decatur County Hospital | Leon | 97 min (1 h 37 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 18 | Veterans Memorial Hospital | Waukon | 97 min (1 h 37 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 20 | Hegg Memorial Health Center | Rock Valley | 98 min (1 h 38 min) | Not reported | — |
| 21 | Kossuth Regional Health Center | Algona | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 22 | Horn Memorial Hospital | Ida Grove | 100 min (1 h 40 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 22 | Humboldt County Memorial Hospital | Humboldt | 100 min (1 h 40 min) | Not reported | — |
| 24 | Crawford County Memorial Hospital | Denison | 101 min (1 h 41 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 24 | Greater Regional Medical Center | Creston | 101 min (1 h 41 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 24 | Hansen Family Hospital | Iowa Falls | 101 min (1 h 41 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 24 | Manning Regional Healthcare Center | Manning | 101 min (1 h 41 min) | Not reported | — |
| 24 | MercyOne Genesis Dewitt Medical Center | Dewitt | 101 min (1 h 41 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 29 | Story County Hospital | Nevada | 102 min (1 h 42 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 30 | Loring Hospital | Sac City | 103 min (1 h 43 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 30 | Palo Alto County Hospital | Emmetsburg | 103 min (1 h 43 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 30 | Van Diest Medical Center | Webster City | 103 min (1 h 43 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 33 | Clarke County Hospital | Osceola | 104 min (1 h 44 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 33 | Greene County Medical Center | Jefferson | 104 min (1 h 44 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 35 | Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital | Rock Rapids | 105 min (1 h 45 min)† | Not reported | — |
| 35 | CHI Health Missouri Valley | Missouri Valley | 105 min (1 h 45 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 35 | MercyOne Dyersville Medical Center | Dyersville | 105 min (1 h 45 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 38 | George C Grape Community Hospital | Hamburg | 108 min (1 h 48 min) | Not reported | — |
| 38 | Iowa Specialty Hospital - Clarion | Clarion | 108 min (1 h 48 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 38 | Lucas County Health Center | Chariton | 108 min (1 h 48 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 41 | Avera Holy Family Hospital | Estherville | 110 min (1 h 50 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 42 | Grinnell Regional Medical Center | Grinnell | 112 min (1 h 52 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 43 | Dallas County Hospital | Perry | 113 min (1 h 53 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 43 | Hancock County Health System | Britt | 113 min (1 h 53 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 43 | Montgomery County Memorial Hospital | Red Oak | 113 min (1 h 53 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 46 | Finley Hospital | Dubuque | 114 min (1 h 54 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 46 | MercyOne Elkader Medical Center | Elkader | 114 min (1 h 54 min) | Not reported | — |
| 46 | Shenandoah Medical Center | Shenandoah | 114 min (1 h 54 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 46 | Winnmed | Decorah | 114 min (1 h 54 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 50 | Madison County Health Care System | Winterset | 115 min (1 h 55 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 50 | Osceola Community Hospital | Sibley | 115 min (1 h 55 min) | Not reported | — |
| 52 | Jones Regional Medical Center | Anamosa | 116 min (1 h 56 min) | Not reported | — |
| 52 | Keokuk County Health Center | Sigourney | 116 min (1 h 56 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 54 | Orange City Area Health System | Orange City | 117 min (1 h 57 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 55 | Jefferson County Health Center | Fairfield | 118 min (1 h 58 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 56 | Mercy Medical Center-New Hampton | New Hampton | 119 min (1 h 59 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 57 | Guthrie County Hospital | Guthrie Center | 120 min (2 h) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 57 | Pocahontas Community Hospital | Pocahontas | 120 min (2 h)† | Not reported | — |
| 59 | Sioux Center Health | Sioux Center | 121 min (2 h 1 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 60 | Boone County Hospital | Boone | 122 min (2 h 2 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 61 | MercyOne Clinton Medical Center | Clinton | 123 min (2 h 3 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 61 | MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center | Oelwein | 123 min (2 h 3 min)† | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 61 | Monroe County Hospital | Albia | 123 min (2 h 3 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 61 | Sanford Sheldon Medical Center | Sheldon | 123 min (2 h 3 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 65 | CHI Health - Mercy Corning | Corning | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 66 | Lakes Regional Healthcare | Spirit Lake | 125 min (2 h 5 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 67 | Stewart Memorial Community Hospital | Lake City | 127 min (2 h 7 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 68 | Ringgold County Hospital | Mount Ayr | 128 min (2 h 8 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 68 | Spencer Municipal Hospital | Spencer | 128 min (2 h 8 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 70 | Burgess Health Center | Onawa | 130 min (2 h 10 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 70 | MercyOne Centerville Medical Center | Centerville | 130 min (2 h 10 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 72 | Community Memorial Hospital Medical Center | Sumner | 132 min (2 h 12 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 72 | Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center | West Burlington | 132 min (2 h 12 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 74 | St Anthony Regional Hospital & Nursing Home | Carroll | 133 min (2 h 13 min) | Not reported | — |
| 75 | Cherokee Regional Medical Center | Cherokee | 134 min (2 h 14 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 76 | Franklin General Hospital | Hampton | 136 min (2 h 16 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 76 | Trinity Muscatine | Muscatine | 136 min (2 h 16 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 78 | Knoxville Hospital & Clinics | Knoxville | 138 min (2 h 18 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 79 | Adair County Memorial Hospital | Greenfield | 140 min (2 h 20 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 80 | Mahaska Health Partnership | Oskaloosa | 141 min (2 h 21 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 81 | Mary Greeley Medical Center | Ames | 146 min (2 h 26 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 81 | Van Buren County Hospital | Keosauqua | 146 min (2 h 26 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 83 | Regional Medical Center | Manchester | 147 min (2 h 27 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 84 | Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids | Cedar Rapids | 148 min (2 h 28 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 85 | University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down… | Iowa City | 149 min (2 h 29 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 85 | Wayne County Hospital | Corydon | 149 min (2 h 29 min)† | Not reported | — |
| 87 | Methodist Jennie Edmundson | Council Bluffs | 150 min (2 h 30 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 88 | Buena Vista Regional Medical Center | Storm Lake | 152 min (2 h 32 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 88 | Pella Regional Health Center | Pella | 152 min (2 h 32 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 90 | Clarinda Regional Health Center | Clarinda | 153 min (2 h 33 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 91 | MercyOne Newton Medical Center | Newton | 155 min (2 h 35 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 92 | Waverly Health Center | Waverly | 157 min (2 h 37 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 93 | Hawarden Regional Healthcare | Hawarden | 158 min (2 h 38 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 94 | UnityPoint Health - Marshalltown | Marshalltown | 162 min (2 h 42 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 95 | Allen Hospital | Waterloo | 163 min (2 h 43 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 96 | Ottumwa Regional Health Center | Ottumwa | 166 min (2 h 46 min) | 4% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 96 | St Lukes Hospital | Cedar Rapids | 166 min (2 h 46 min) | 3% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 98 | Trinity Regional Medical Center | Fort Dodge | 167 min (2 h 47 min) | 5% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 99 | Floyd County Medical Center | Charles City | 168 min (2 h 48 min) | Not reported | — |
| 100 | Floyd Valley Healthcare | Le Mars | 169 min (2 h 49 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 101 | CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs | 171 min (2 h 51 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 102 | Genesis Medical Center-Davenport | Davenport | 174 min (2 h 54 min) | 5% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 102 | St Lukes Regional Medical Center | Sioux City | 174 min (2 h 54 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 104 | UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi… | Des Moines | 182 min (3 h 2 min) | 7% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 105 | MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center | Mason City | 193 min (3 h 13 min) | 4% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 106 | MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center | Sioux City | 199 min (3 h 19 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 107 | Broadlawns Medical Center | Des Moines | 204 min (3 h 24 min) | 9% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 107 | MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center | Dubuque | 204 min (3 h 24 min) | 4% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 109 | Trinity - Bettendorf | Bettendorf | 205 min (3 h 25 min) | 7% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 110 | University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics | Iowa City | 210 min (3 h 30 min) | 3% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 111 | MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center | Waterloo | 223 min (3 h 43 min) | 10% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 112 | MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center | Des Moines | 244 min (4 h 4 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
† Medicare footnote 3: the result is based on a shorter period than required.
ER wait times by city in Iowa
Common questions
Which ER in Iowa has the shortest wait?
In Medicare's data for October 2024 to September 2025, Compass Memorial Healthcare had the shortest median time patients spent in the emergency room before going home: 55 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 Iowa?
The middle value of the 112 hospitals listed here is 119.5 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.