Every Minute Matters at Northeast Regional Medical Center

12/22/2025

Shorter ER wait times help patients get the care they need, faster

KIRKVILLE, MO December 22, 2025 – When health emergencies happen, patients and their family members often turn to the emergency department for prompt medical attention. With thousands of patient encounters in the ER annually, Northeast Regional Medical Center (NRMC) not only delivers medically necessary, life-saving patient care, it prioritizes short wait times, with a goal to connect every patient with a medical professional for timely assessment and treatment.

ER wait times can be an indicator of hospital efficiency and patient experience, and is one of the quality indicators measured for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings. CMS measures the total time a patient spends in the ER.

“No one wants to spend hours waiting in the ER when they aren’t feeling well, and we are continuously evaluating and refining our processes, staffing and communications to provide patients timely care,” said NRMC Chief Nursing Officer, Kellie Griffin, MBA-HM, BSN, RN. “We will always prioritize the most critical emergencies first, but our goal is for every patient to be seen in the shortest time possible.” The average ER wait time in 2024 for the state of Missouri was 2 hours and 35 minutes. The average ER wait time for NRMC over the last three months was 8.9 minutes from arrival to being placed in an ER room and 20.1 minutes to be evaluated by a physician.

Griffin said that with the holidays approaching, NRMC often experiences an uptick in ER visits. According to the American Heart Association, the risk of heart attack and stroke increases around the holidays, but people often ignore early warning signs rather than getting them checked out. Griffin says that is a mistake.

“Timely medical care is critical for patients experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or stroke,” said Griffin. “Prompt treatment not only saves lives, it can minimize long-term damage and complications. To ensure the best possible outcome, it is important to recognize emergent conditions and get help fast. Our emergency department team is well-equipped to evaluate patients and get them the care they need even during the busiest times of year.”

Common heart attack symptoms include chest discomfort, discomfort in areas of the upper body including the arms and neck, and shortness of breath. Stroke symptoms can include face drooping, arm weakness, difficulty speaking, and sudden change in mental status. Anyone experiencing heart attack or stroke symptoms should call 9-1-1.

NRMC is accredited by the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center and as a Level III Stroke Center by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which ensures that hospitals follow national standards of care for heart attack and stroke. In 2024, NRMC’s emergency department provided care at more than 13,000 patient visits.

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