The effect of race on waiting time in two urban emergency departments

This study examines the relation between patient race and waiting time in two urban Emergency Departments, located in the northeastern United States. Consecutive patients presenting with lacerations make up the subjects in the study. In order to control for the effect of disease severity, we restricted the sample to patients presenting with small, single lacerations requiring sutures. Patients who were intoxicated, had experienced syncope, had been involved in motor vehicle accidents, or who required tests or consultation were excluded. Taking socio-demographic (age, sex, insurance status) and clinical variables (location of laceration, time of day, day of week) into account, we found no substantial difference in total time spent in the Emergency Departments between whites and non-whites.