Study Reveals The Best States for Urgent Care
A recent Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys study analyzed state-level healthcare facility data and performance metrics to study the best states for emergency medical care. The study used metrics such as visits to the ER, hospital admissions, number of urgent care centers per 1000 residents, and ER wait time in minutes to rank states based on quality and efficiency.
Full list of findings
| States | Population | Visits to ER per 1000 | Hospital Admissions per 1,000 | Urgent care centers | Urgent care centers per 1000 | Wait time (min) |
| Wyoming | 586,485 | 347 | 65 | 26 | 0.04433 | 137 |
| Utah | 3,454,232 | 280 | 70 | 117 | 0.03387 | 130 |
| Nevada | 3,210,931 | 251 | 81 | 99 | 0.03083 | 145 |
| South Dakota | 928,767 | 367 | 118 | 31 | 0.03338 | 113 |
| Alaska | 733,536 | 324 | 70 | 26 | 0.03544 | 138 |
| Hawaii | 1,430,877 | 320 | 73 | 41 | 0.02865 | 117 |
| Oklahoma | 4,088,377 | 474 | 98 | 170 | 0.04158 | 115 |
| Montana | 1,142,746 | 393 | 84 | 41 | 0.03588 | 127 |
| Georgia | 11,145,304 | 374 | 88 | 433 | 0.03885 | 146 |
| Alabama | 5,143,033 | 407 | 119 | 203 | 0.03947 | 139 |
Wyoming leads the list of best states for emergency medical care, with the highest number of urgent care centers relative to its population and the third-shortest ER wait times (137 minutes), reflecting efficient patient management.
Utah ranks second. The state has the shortest ER wait time (130 minutes) and the second-lowest ER visit rate (280 per 1,000 people), indicating a quick and efficient healthcare system for patients.
Nevada is third, having the lowest ER visit rate and the third-most efficient system in terms of hospital admissions, suggesting that Nevada effectively manages both emergency and hospital services. Nevada has 99 urgent care centers serving a population of 3,210,931.
South Dakota claims the fourth spot, with the shortest ER wait time (113 minutes) and the third-highest hospital admission rate (118 per 1,000 people), pointing to frequent and efficient handling of severe cases.
Alaska ranks fifth, balancing
Hawaii ranks sixth among the states for best emergency care with a low hospital admission rate (73 per 1,000 people), quick ER wait times (117 minutes), and 41 urgent care centers for its population.
Oklahoma ranks seventh for emergency medical care quality thanks to its high number of urgent care centers (170 for a population of 4,088,377), which provides residents with good access to emergency care, reduces pressure on emergency rooms, and results in relatively short ER wait times of 115 minutes.
Montana ranks eighth, where 393 out of 1000 people visit the ER, but balances this with urgent care availability (41 centers for 1,142,746 people) and efficient ER operations (127 minutes in wait time).
Georgia is ninth with its network of urgent care centers (433 for a population of 11,145,304), effectively serving its population’s healthcare needs and managing a high volume of ER visits (374 per 1,000 people) with an ER wait time of 146 minutes.
Alabama rounds out the top ten best states for emergency medical care, dealing with a high hospital admission rate (119 per 1,000 people) and frequent ER usage (407 per 1,000 people). Alabama has 203 urgent care centers for its population of 5,143,033