OTTUMWA - Ottumwa Regional Health Center (ORHC) has launched a new online ER Wait Time Widget designed to give patients greater transparency and improve their overall experience when seeking emergency care.

This new online feature provides real-time updates on average ER wait times, helping patients make informed decisions about their care. The wait time is prominently displayed in the top right corner of the hospital’s homepage and is refreshed every 15 minutes.

"In launching this new tool, we want to provide greater transparency and set clear expectations for our patients,” said Interim CEO K.C. DeBoer. "We hope it will not only assist patients in choosing where to receive care but also help enhance their overall experience when visiting our Emergency Department.”

This initiative supports ORHC’s ongoing mission of making communities healthier through accessible quality care and patient-centered service. The hospital continues to invest in tools and resources that strengthen communication and improve the patient’s journey, from arrival to treatment.

How the Wait Time Is Calculated When a time, such as 14 minutes, is displayed, it represents a four-hour rolling average. Each patient’s visit is tracked through an electronic system that measures the time between their arrival in the Emergency Department and their first interaction with a qualified medical professional. The system automatically updates the average every 15 minutes, providing an accurate and current snapshot of recent patient flow.

What Patients Can Expect While the posted wait time is a reliable indicator, individual experiences may vary depending on the urgency of their condition and the volume of patients at any given time. Because emergency departments prioritize care based on medical severity, some patients may be seen sooner than others. The four-hour rolling average helps account for these natural fluctuations, offering the most stable and meaningful estimate possible.

"Minutes matter when it comes to saving lives,” DeBoer added. "This new feature helps ensure our community has quick access to the information they need and reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”