Prince George's County is taking significant steps to address the pressing issue of emergency room wait times, as highlighted in the recent Emergency Room Wait Time Taskforce meeting held on September 15, 2025. The taskforce provided a comprehensive overview of emergency medical services and discussed various statistics related to wait times, revealing that Maryland ranks third in the nation for the worst emergency department wait times.

The meeting emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to tackle the challenges faced by local emergency rooms. Currently, there are six emergency rooms in Prince George's County, and the taskforce is working to gather accurate wait time data, which has proven difficult to obtain. Key metrics discussed included the time from patient arrival to admission and discharge, as well as EMS turnaround times, which reflect how long it takes for emergency medical services to transfer patients to hospitals.

Recent data showed concerning trends, with a significant number of patients experiencing long wait times. For instance, in September 2024, three out of the four county hospitals had EMS turnaround times exceeding 60 minutes, indicating a critical need for improvement. The taskforce is also collaborating with the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), which is developing a comprehensive strategy to reduce wait times across the state. Their first draft report is expected by November 1, 2025.

In addition to these efforts, the taskforce is exploring legislative support for a safe staffing act, which aims to ensure adequate staffing levels in emergency departments. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance healthcare infrastructure and improve patient care in Prince George's County.

As the taskforce continues its work, the community can expect further updates and recommendations aimed at reducing emergency room wait times and improving overall healthcare access. The next steps will involve analyzing the findings and implementing actionable recommendations to create a more efficient emergency medical system for residents.