Note: ER wait times can change quickly. Sometimes an ER may not appear busy to those waiting in the lobby, but there can be a separate entrance for patients who arrive by ambulance.
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Historical Average ER Wait Timei
This data comes from CMS emergency department performance data for Jan 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 2025. ERcost averages the historical benchmark across ER locations in this metro area.
3 hr 21 min
CMS median ED time, 82 of 83 ER locations
Pediatric ERsi
Pediatric ERs in this metro area:Advocate Children's Emergency Department - Oak LawnAdvocate Children's Hospital - Park Ridge Pediatric Emergency RoomAnn & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of ChicagoAscension Saint Alexius Pediatric ER - Cn EmergikidsLurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central Dupage HospitalUchicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital Pediatric Emergency Room
6
Showing 1-5 of 83 ER locations
Showing 1-10 of 83 ER locations
Mercy Medical CenterVoluntary non-profit - Private
Reported
Wait Time
15 min
Last Updated
Jun 16, 2026, 11:15 AM CDT
Overall rating
3 stars
Source
Patient-reported wait time
Source info
Patient-reported arrival-to-first-seen time. Not verified by a hospital and not a measure of total ER visit time.
Historical Benchmark
Historical emergency department benchmark measures
ER volume
data unavailable
Median time spent in ERi
Median time patients spent in the emergency department before leaving.
3 hr 14 min
Left before being seeni
Percentage of patients who left the ER before being seen.
Patient-reported arrival-to-first-seen time. Not verified by a hospital and not a measure of total ER visit time.
high
3 hr 28 min
0%
Showing 1-10 of 83 ER locations
Data Sources: Live wait-time values and recent patient reports are compiled from hospital-published sources, patient submissions, and verified updates. Historical data represents CMS-audited annual performance benchmarks and is not a live estimate of current ER volume. Hospital ownership labels and hospital overall ratings come from the CMS Hospital General Information dataset. CMS ratings are a broad summary, not a perfect measure of whether a hospital is best for a specific service.
Recent Patient Reports
Patient reports are submitted by site visitors. Wait times can change quickly and do not represent total ER visit time.
Saint Joseph Hospital - Elgin
50 min wait
Patient-reported
Arrival date and time
Oct 5, 2026, 10:41 AM CDT
Seen date and time
Oct 5, 2026, 11:31 AM CDT
Saint Joseph Hospital - Elgin
60 min wait
Patient-reported
Arrival date and time
Sep 28, 2026, 12:05 AM CDT
Seen date and time
Sep 28, 2026, 1:05 AM CDT
Alternatives to the ER
Call 911 or go to the ER for chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathing trouble, major injury, severe allergic reaction, or any symptom that may be life-threatening.
For non-emergency symptoms, these options can help you get guidance and decide whether home care, urgent care, or a trip to the ER is the right call.
Call Your Insurer's free 24/7 Nurse Line
Many insurance plans include a free 24/7 nurse line where a registered nurse can help you weigh your symptoms and figure out the right next step.
24/7 virtual urgent care lets you see a provider from home, often in minutes, without waiting room time or an ER bill. Self-pay rates start as low as $59 per visit, and many plans cover it for free.