Understanding Emergency Room Waits and What The Elliot is Doing About Them

When you or a loved one experiences a medical emergency, every moment matters. At The Elliot Emergency Department, we understand how stressful those moments can be. That’s why our dedicated team is committed to providing timely, high-quality care, every hour of every day. 

We also know that no one wants to wait when they’re feeling scared, sick, or uncertain. While some patients have shared feedback about longer-than-expected wait times in our Emergency Department, we want to take this opportunity to explain what factors impact those waits. Most importantly, we want you to know what we’re doing to improve your experience and ensure you get the care you need as efficiently as possible. 

Why Do Emergency Department Wait Times Happen? 

There are many moving parts behind the scenes of a hospital, and several factors can influence how quickly a patient is seen: 

• Inpatient capacity: When all hospital beds are full, patients who need to be admitted may stay longer in the Emergency Department, limiting space for new arrivals. 
• Behavioral health needs: Patients experiencing a mental health crisis often require specialized care and placement, which can extend their ED stay. 
• High community demand: Like many health systems nationwide, we sometimes experience periods when the volume of patients exceeds our department’s capacity. 

Even when wait times are longer, please know this. Every patient is triaged upon arrival and seen as quickly as possible based on the severity of their condition. 

How We’re Responding and Innovating 

We’re not just listening to patient feedback. We’re acting on it. Here’s how we’ve expanded services and reimagined care to better serve our community: 

• Intermediate Care Area 
  We’ve restructured our rapid triage space into an Intermediate Care Area, a specially designed zone where more patients can receive monitored care in a timely, safe environment. All care is provided by our expert Emergency Medicine team. 
• Increased Staffing 
  We’ve significantly increased the number of nurses and allied health professionals in our department to match the rising demand for emergency care. This helps us maximize treatment space and respond more quickly to patient needs. 
• Dedicated Behavioral Health Team 
  Our ED now includes a team of behavioral health professionals who provide fast, high-quality support to patients experiencing a mental health crisis. This streamlines care and eases ED congestion. 

Options Beyond the ED: Same Expert Team, More Convenient Access 

Not every medical concern requires a trip to the Emergency Department. We offer several alternatives for non-life-threatening issues, all backed by the same trusted Elliot team. 

Elliot Virtual ER 

Our Elliot Virtual ER allows you to connect OnDemand with an Elliot emergency medicine physician from the comfort of your home. Conditions like suspected infections, skin issues, minor injuries, and more can often be treated virtually. If you do need in-person care, we’ll coordinate your next steps, whether that’s a visit to one of our Urgent Care locations or our main Emergency Department. If a follow-up visit is needed, the virtual consult is free of charge. 

Learn More Elliot VirtualER OnDemand Visits

Elliot Urgent Care  

We offer three Urgent Care locations in Manchester, Londonderry, and Bedford. These clinics are staffed by the same board-certified emergency providers who work in our hospital’s ED. Open 7 days a week, these locations provide fast, effective care for issues that can’t wait for a primary care appointment but aren’t life-threatening. 

Check Urgent Care Wait Times

Our Commitment: Care You Can Count On 

We’re proud to serve this community as a Level II Trauma Center with a specialized Pediatric Emergency Department and dedicated Behavioral Health Services. Whether you walk through our doors or log in from home, we are here for you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To the thousands of patients we serve each year, thank you for trusting us with your care.