ER Wait Times in Missouri: 97 Hospitals Compared
97 hospitals in Missouri report how long their emergency room patients stay. The middle value here is 151 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 Missouri, 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 | Mosaic Medical Center Albany | Albany | 72 min (1 h 12 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 2 | Madison Medical Center | Fredericktown | 83 min (1 h 23 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 3 | Fitzgibbon Hospital | Marshall | 84 min (1 h 24 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 3 | Pershing Memorial Hospital | Brookfield | 84 min (1 h 24 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 5 | Hermann Area District Hospital | Hermann | 86 min (1 h 26 min) | Not reported | — |
| 6 | Community Hospital Association | Fairfax | 89 min (1 h 29 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 7 | Research Medical Center | Kansas City | 90 min (1 h 30 min) | 0% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 8 | Cox Barton County Hospital | Lamar | 91 min (1 h 31 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 9 | Mercy Hospital Carthage | Carthage | 92 min (1 h 32 min) | 0% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 10 | Bates County Memorial Hospital | Butler | 95 min (1 h 35 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 10 | Nevada Regional Medical Center | Nevada | 95 min (1 h 35 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 12 | Belton Regional Medical Center | Belton | 98 min (1 h 38 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 12 | Carroll County Memorial Hospital | Carrollton | 98 min (1 h 38 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 14 | Excelsior Springs Hospital | Excelsior Springs | 99 min (1 h 39 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 15 | Mercy Hospital - Cassville | Cassville | 101 min (1 h 41 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 16 | Ste Genevieve County Memorial Hospital | Sainte Genevieve | 103 min (1 h 43 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 17 | Scotland County Hospital | Memphis | 104 min (1 h 44 min)† | Not reported | — |
| 18 | Cedar County Memorial Hospital | El Dorado Springs | 106 min (1 h 46 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 18 | Lafayette Regional Health Center | Lexington | 106 min (1 h 46 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 18 | Mosaic Medical Center - Maryville | Maryville | 106 min (1 h 46 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 21 | Ellett Memorial Hospital | Appleton City | 107 min (1 h 47 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 22 | Cameron Regional Medical Center | Cameron | 108 min (1 h 48 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 23 | Harrison County Community Hospital | Bethany | 109 min (1 h 49 min) | Not reported | — |
| 24 | Ray County Memorial Hospital | Richmond | 113 min (1 h 53 min)† | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 25 | Moberly Regional Medical Center | Moberly | 114 min (1 h 54 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 25 | Sullivan County Memorial Hospital | Milan | 114 min (1 h 54 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 27 | Putnam County Memorial Hospital | Unionville | 118 min (1 h 58 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 28 | Mercy St Francis Hospital | Mountain View | 120 min (2 h) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 29 | Texas County Memorial Hospital | Houston | 123 min (2 h 3 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 30 | Hedrick Medical Center | Chillicothe | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 30 | St Joseph Medical Center | Kansas City | 124 min (2 h 4 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 32 | Mercy Hospital Aurora | Aurora | 129 min (2 h 9 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 33 | Cass Regional Medical Center | Harrisonville | 131 min (2 h 11 min) | Not reported | — |
| 33 | Pike County Memorial Hospital | Louisiana | 131 min (2 h 11 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 35 | Salem Memorial District Hospital | Salem | 133 min (2 h 13 min)† | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 36 | Mercy Hospital Perry | Perryville | 135 min (2 h 15 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 37 | General Leonard Wood ACH (FT Leonard Wood) | Fort Leonard Wood | 136 min (2 h 16 min) | Not reported | — |
| 37 | Wright Memorial Hospital | Trenton | 136 min (2 h 16 min) | 0% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 39 | Western Missouri Medical Center | Warrensburg | 140 min (2 h 20 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 40 | Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital | Hayti | 144 min (2 h 24 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 41 | Hannibal Regional Hospital | Hannibal | 145 min (2 h 25 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 42 | Washington County Memorial Hospital | Potosi | 146 min (2 h 26 min) | Not reported | — |
| 43 | Freeman Neosho Hospital | Neosho | 148 min (2 h 28 min) | Not reported | — |
| 44 | Mercy Hospital Lincoln | Troy | 150 min (2 h 30 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 44 | Northeast Regional Medical Center | Kirksville | 150 min (2 h 30 min) | 1% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 44 | University Health Lakewood Medical Center | Kansas City | 150 min (2 h 30 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 47 | Cox Monett Hospital | Monett | 151 min (2 h 31 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 47 | Mercy Hospital Lebanon | Lebanon | 151 min (2 h 31 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 47 | St Mary's Medical Center | Blue Springs | 151 min (2 h 31 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 50 | Mosaic Life Care at St Joseph | Saint Joseph | 153 min (2 h 33 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 51 | SSM St Joseph Health Center | Saint Charles | 157 min (2 h 37 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 52 | Mercy Hospital Washington | Washington | 159 min (2 h 39 min) | 1% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 53 | Iron County Medical Center | Pilot Knob | 163 min (2 h 43 min) | Not reported | — |
| 54 | Golden Valley Memorial Hospital | Clinton | 166 min (2 h 46 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 54 | SSM Health St Mary's Hospital - St Louis | Saint Louis | 166 min (2 h 46 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 56 | SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City | Jefferson City | 168 min (2 h 48 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 57 | Mercy Hospital Southeast | Cape Girardeau | 169 min (2 h 49 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 57 | Mercy Hospital Stoddard | Dexter | 169 min (2 h 49 min) | 5% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 59 | Centerpoint Medical Center | Independence | 170 min (2 h 50 min) | 1% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 59 | Lake Regional Health System | Osage Beach | 170 min (2 h 50 min) | 4% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 59 | Lee's Summit Medical Center | Lees Summit | 170 min (2 h 50 min) | 0% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 62 | Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center | Poplar Bluff | 173 min (2 h 53 min) | 3% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 63 | Boone Hospital Center | Columbia | 175 min (2 h 55 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 63 | Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital | Sullivan | 175 min (2 h 55 min) | 3% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 65 | Saint Lukes North Hospital | Kansas City | 179 min (2 h 59 min) | 4% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 66 | NKC Health | North Kansas City | 180 min (3 h) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 67 | Ozarks Healthcare | West Plains | 182 min (3 h 2 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 68 | Citizens Memorial Hospital | Bolivar | 186 min (3 h 6 min) | 2% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 69 | Liberty Hospital | Liberty | 194 min (3 h 14 min) | 4% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 70 | Bothwell Regional Health Center | Sedalia | 198 min (3 h 18 min) | 6% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 71 | SSM St Clare Health Center | Fenton | 200 min (3 h 20 min) | 1% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 72 | Mercy Hospital Jefferson | Crystal City | 202 min (3 h 22 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 72 | Missouri Delta Medical Center | Sikeston | 202 min (3 h 22 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 72 | Parkland Health Center | Farmington | 202 min (3 h 22 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 75 | Progress West Hospital | Ofallon | 203 min (3 h 23 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 76 | Phelps County Regional Medical Center | Rolla | 211 min (3 h 31 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 77 | St Lukes Hospital | Chesterfield | 212 min (3 h 32 min) | 5% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 78 | SSM Health Depaul Hospital St Louis | Bridgeton | 213 min (3 h 33 min) | 2% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 79 | SSM St Joseph Hospital West | Lake Saint Louis | 215 min (3 h 35 min) | 4% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 80 | Christian Hospital Northeast | Saint Louis | 217 min (3 h 37 min) | 5% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 81 | Cox Medical Center Branson | Branson | 218 min (3 h 38 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 82 | Cox Medical Centers | Springfield | 219 min (3 h 39 min) | 3% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 83 | Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital | Creve Coeur | 220 min (3 h 40 min) | 4% | Low (under 20,000) |
| 83 | Mercy Hospital St Louis | Saint Louis | 220 min (3 h 40 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 85 | University of Missouri Health Care | Columbia | 222 min (3 h 42 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 86 | Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill | Kansas City | 224 min (3 h 44 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 87 | Mercy Hospital Joplin | Joplin | 226 min (3 h 46 min) | 6% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 87 | St Lukes Hospital of Kansas City | Kansas City | 226 min (3 h 46 min) | 8% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 89 | Freeman Health System - Freeman West | Joplin | 228 min (3 h 48 min) | 3% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 90 | Saint Francis Medical Center | Cape Girardeau | 247 min (4 h 7 min) | 5% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 90 | Saint Luke's East Hospital | Lees Summit | 247 min (4 h 7 min) | 7% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 92 | Barnes-Jewish St Peters Hospital | Saint Peters | 253 min (4 h 13 min) | 2% | Medium (20,000–39,999) |
| 93 | Mercy Hospital South | Saint Louis | 254 min (4 h 14 min) | 2% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 94 | Missouri Baptist Medical Center | Saint Louis | 262 min (4 h 22 min) | 3% | High (40,000–59,999) |
| 95 | Barnes Jewish Hospital | Saint Louis | 277 min (4 h 37 min) | 7% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 96 | Mercy Hospital Springfield | Springfield | 299 min (4 h 59 min) | 4% | Very high (60,000 or more) |
| 97 | SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital | Saint Louis | 335 min (5 h 35 min) | 5% | High (40,000–59,999) |
† Medicare footnote 3: the result is based on a shorter period than required.
ER wait times by city in Missouri
Common questions
Which ER in Missouri has the shortest wait?
In Medicare's data for October 2024 to September 2025, Mosaic Medical Center Albany had the shortest median time patients spent in the emergency room before going home: 72 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 Missouri?
The middle value of the 97 hospitals listed here is 151 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.