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Total Time Spent in Emergency Department (Hours, Percentile)

This indicator measures the time interval between the earlier of Triage Date/Time or Registration Date/Time and the date/time when a patient leaves the emergency department (ED).

The 90th or 50th percentile of this indicator represents the maximum length of time that 90% or 50% of patients spend in the ED.

A small number is desirable for this indicator.

Data updated:
Data availability: to (fiscal years)
Geographic coverage
Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon
Reporting level
National, Province/Territory, Region, Facility, Corporation
Calculation

The indicator is measured in hours, usually using the 90th percentile and/or 50th percentile, which represents the maximum length of time that 90% and/or 50% of patients stay in the ED.

Unit of analysis: Single ED visit

Denominator

Not applicable

Numerator

All emergency visits

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Name

Total Time Spent in Emergency Department (Hours, Percentile)

Short/Other Names

Not applicable

Description

This indicator measures the time interval between the earlier of triage date/time or registration date/time and the date/time when a patient leaves the emergency department (ED).

Rationale

Time is crucial to the effectiveness and outcome of patient care, especially for emergency patients. In conjunction with other indicators, this can be used to monitor the total length of time patients spend in the ED in an effort to improve the efficiency and, ultimately, the outcome of patient care.

Many factors can influence the indicator results, including the availability of inpatient beds, triage level, the overall patient population and hospital resources.

Interpretation

The 90th or 50th percentile of this indicator represents the maximum length of time that 90% or 50% of patients spend in the ED.

A small number is desirable for this indicator.

HSP Framework Dimension

Health system outputs: Access to comprehensive, high-quality health services

Areas of Need

Getting Better

Targets/Benchmarks

Not applicable

Available Data Years

to (fiscal years)

Geographic Coverage

  • Prince Edward Island
  • Nova Scotia
  • Quebec
  • Ontario
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Yukon

Reporting Level/Disaggregation

  • National
  • Province/Territory
  • Region
  • Facility
  • Corporation
  • Peer group

Indicator Results

Web Tool:
Quick Stats
 

Update Frequency

Every year in Quick Stats; every month in Your Health System: Insight

Latest Results Update Date

Updates

Not applicable

Description

The indicator is measured in hours, usually using the 90th percentile and/or 50th percentile, which represents the maximum length of time that 90% and/or 50% of patients stay in the ED.

Unit of analysis: Single ED visit

Type of Measurement

Number - Number of hours, percentile

Denominator

Description:

Not applicable

Numerator

Description:

All emergency visits

Inclusions:

  1. Unscheduled emergency visits
  2. ED visits with a valid and known registration date/time or triage date/time and a valid and known date/time when a patient left the ED

Exclusions:

  1. Scheduled emergency visits
  2. ED Visits with Visit Disposition = 02 from 2013–2014 to 2017–2018, and Visit Disposition = 61 as of 2018–2019
  3. Visits with both unknown/invalid registration and triage date/time OR with unknown/invalid patient left ED date/time

Method of Adjustment

Not applicable

Adjustment Applied

None

Geographic Assignment

Place of service

Data Sources

  • NACRS

Caveats and Limitations

Not applicable

Trending Issues

Coverage in the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) changes over time as more jurisdictions participate.

For more information on NACRS coverage, please refer to the Coverage tab in the pre-formatted NACRS Quick Stats: Quick Stats.

Comments

Quick Stats results from the previous year can be found here: Quick Stats.

These static tables include both 50th and 90th percentiles at jurisdictional levels. Additional breakdowns based on the 90th percentile are provided by peer group, age and main problem.

Additional results based on the 50th percentile can be found in the  supplementary tables, and include breakdowns by main problem, triage level, visit disposition, age and sex.

Indicator results are also available in Your Health System: Insight.

References

Not applicable

How to cite:

Canadian Institute for Health Information. Total Time Spent in Emergency Department (Hours, Percentile). Accessed April 25, 2025.