ER Wait Times in Louisiana: 89 Hospitals Compared
89 hospitals in Louisiana report how long their emergency room patients stay. The middle value here is 126 minutes; national (Medicare): 162 minutes.
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 Louisiana, 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 | Lady of the Sea General Hospital | Cut Off | 62 min (1 h 2 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 2 | Richardson Medical Center | Rayville | 65 min (1 h 5 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 3 | St Helena Parish Hospital | Greensburg | 73 min (1 h 13 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 4 | Avoyelles Hospital | Marksville | 77 min (1 h 17 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 5 | Hood Memorial Hospital | Amite | 82 min (1 h 22 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 6 | Claiborne Memorial Medical Center | Homer | 84 min (1 h 24 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 7 | Bunkie General Hospital | Bunkie | 88 min (1 h 28 min)† | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 8 | East Carroll Parish Hospital | Lake Providence | 89 min (1 h 29 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 8 | Ochsner St Mary | Morgan City | 89 min (1 h 29 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 8 | Union General Hospital | Farmerville | 89 min (1 h 29 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 11 | Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital | Kaplan | 90 min (1 h 30 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 11 | Hardtner Medical Center | Olla | 90 min (1 h 30 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 13 | West Feliciana Parish Hospital | Saint Francisville | 97 min (1 h 37 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 14 | Bayne-Jones ACH (Ft Johnson) | Fort Johnson | 98 min (1 h 38 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 15 | Dequincy Memorial Hospital | Dequincy | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 15 | Ochsner St Martin Hospital | Breaux Bridge | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 15 | Springhill Medical Center | Springhill | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 18 | Bienville Medical Center | Arcadia | 100 min (1 h 40 min)† | Not reported | — |
| 18 | St James Parish Hospital | Lutcher | 100 min (1 h 40 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 18 | Winn Parish Medical Center | Winnfield | 100 min (1 h 40 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 21 | Lallie Kemp Medical Center | Independence | 101 min (1 h 41 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 22 | Bayou Bend Health System | Franklin | 102 min (1 h 42 min)† | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 23 | Ochsner American Legion Hospital | Jennings | 104 min (1 h 44 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 24 | Allen Parish Hospital | Kinder | 105 min (1 h 45 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 25 | Savoy Medical Center | Mamou | 108 min (1 h 48 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 26 | Acadia General Hospital | Crowley | 109 min (1 h 49 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 26 | Desoto Regional Health System | Mansfield | 109 min (1 h 49 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 28 | St Charles Parish Hospital | Luling | 114 min (1 h 54 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 29 | Reeves Memorial Medical Center | Bernice | 115 min (1 h 55 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 30 | Acadian Medical Center | Eunice | 116 min (1 h 56 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 31 | Abbeville General Hospital | Abbeville | 117 min (1 h 57 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 31 | Oakdale Community Hospital | Oakdale | 117 min (1 h 57 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 33 | Ochsner St Anne General Hospital | Raceland | 120 min (2 h) | 0% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 34 | Byrd Regional Hospital | Leesville | 121 min (2 h 1 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 34 | Minden Medical Center | Minden | 121 min (2 h 1 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 36 | Morehouse General Hospital | Bastrop | 122 min (2 h 2 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 36 | Opelousas General Health System | Opelousas | 122 min (2 h 2 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 38 | West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital | Sulphur | 123 min (2 h 3 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 39 | Citizens Medical Center | Columbia | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 39 | North Caddo Medical Center | Vivian | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 39 | Pointe Coupee General Hospital | New Roads | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 42 | Iberia Medical Center | New Iberia | 125 min (2 h 5 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 42 | Madison Parish Hospital | Tallulah | 125 min (2 h 5 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 44 | Leonard J Chabert Medical Center | Houma | 126 min (2 h 6 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 44 | Riverside Medical Center | Franklinton | 126 min (2 h 6 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 46 | Sabine Medical Center | Many | 129 min (2 h 9 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 47 | CHRISTUS Ochsner Lake Area Hospital | Lake Charles | 130 min (2 h 10 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 48 | Terrebonne General Medical Center - Parish | Houma | 133 min (2 h 13 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 49 | Jackson Parish Hospital | Jonesboro | 135 min (2 h 15 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 49 | Northern Louisiana Medical Center | Ruston | 135 min (2 h 15 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 49 | Our Lady of the Angels Hospital | Bogalusa | 135 min (2 h 15 min) | Not reported | — |
| 52 | Lasalle General Hospital | Jena | 137 min (2 h 17 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 52 | Rapides Regional Medical Center | Alexandria | 137 min (2 h 17 min) | 0% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 54 | New Orleans East Hospital | New Orleans | 140 min (2 h 20 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 54 | Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Inc | Lafayette | 140 min (2 h 20 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 56 | CHRISTUS Ochsner St Patrick Hospital | Lake Charles | 142 min (2 h 22 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 57 | Ochsner University Hospital and Clinics | Lafayette | 143 min (2 h 23 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 58 | Mercy Regional Medical Center | Ville Platte | 144 min (2 h 24 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 59 | Franklin Medical Center | Winnsboro | 145 min (2 h 25 min) | 4% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 59 | West Carroll Memorial Hospital | Oak Grove | 145 min (2 h 25 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 61 | Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner | Kenner | 147 min (2 h 27 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 61 | Touro Infirmary | New Orleans | 147 min (2 h 27 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 61 | West Jefferson Medical Center | Marrero | 147 min (2 h 27 min) | 3% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 61 | Womans Hospital | Baton Rouge | 147 min (2 h 27 min) | 0% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 65 | Ochsner LSU Health Monroe | Monroe | 152 min (2 h 32 min) | 6% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 66 | East Jefferson General Hospital | Metairie | 157 min (2 h 37 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 67 | Glenwood Regional Medical Center | West Monroe | 158 min (2 h 38 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 67 | Natchitoches Regional Medical Center | Natchitoches | 158 min (2 h 38 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 69 | North Oaks Medical Center | Hammond | 159 min (2 h 39 min) | 6% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 70 | Richland Parish Hospital-Delhi | Delhi | 160 min (2 h 40 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 71 | St Tammany Parish Hospital | Covington | 161 min (2 h 41 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 72 | CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System | Shreveport | 165 min (2 h 45 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 73 | Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center | Lafayette | 166 min (2 h 46 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 74 | Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center | Baton Rouge | 168 min (2 h 48 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 75 | Thibodaux Regional Medical Center | Thibodaux | 171 min (2 h 51 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 76 | Ochsner Medical Center Acute | New Orleans | 174 min (2 h 54 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 77 | Willis Knighton Medical Center | Shreveport | 177 min (2 h 57 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 78 | Beauregard Memorial Hospital | Deridder | 180 min (3 h) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 78 | St Bernard Parish Hospital | Chalmette | 180 min (3 h) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 78 | The General | Baton Rouge | 180 min (3 h) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 81 | Lane Regional Medical Center | Zachary | 184 min (3 h 4 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 82 | Ochsner Medical Center - Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | 197 min (3 h 17 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 83 | Slidell Memorial Hospital | Slidell | 203 min (3 h 23 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 84 | Baton Rouge General Medical Center | Baton Rouge | 210 min (3 h 30 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 84 | Lake Charles Memorial Hospital | Lake Charles | 210 min (3 h 30 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 86 | CHRISTUS St Frances Cabrini Hospital | Alexandria | 215 min (3 h 35 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 87 | Fmol Health St Francis | Monroe | 226 min (3 h 46 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 88 | Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport | Shreveport | 247 min (4 h 7 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 89 | University Medical Center New Orleans | New Orleans | 327 min (5 h 27 min) | 3% | 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 Louisiana
Common questions
Which ER in Louisiana has the shortest wait?
In Medicare's data for October 2024 to September 2025, Lady of the Sea General Hospital had the shortest median time patients spent in the emergency room before going home: 62 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 Louisiana?
The middle value of the 89 hospitals listed here is 126 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.