California
San Francisco ER Wait Times
Note: ER wait times can change quickly. Sometimes an ER may not appear busy to those waiting in the lobby, but there can be a separate entrance for patients who arrive by ambulance — and the sickest patients are always seen first.
Report Your Wait TimeSan Francisco ER Map
17 ER pins- Under 1 hr
- 1–3 hrs
- 3+ hrs
- No current wait time
Historical average time in the ER
Not available
None of this city's ERs report this measure to CMS.
Typical wait to be seen
53 min
Average typical wait to first assessment across San Francisco ERs
Pediatric ERs
0
Children's hospitals and pediatric emergency departments
17 locations · hospitals reporting ER data to CMS first, then shortest wait
| Facility name | Overall rating | Wait time | Last updated | Historical benchmark | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visit volume | Median time spent in ER | Left before being seen | ||||
| Kentfield Hospital San Francisco | Not available | 35 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| Almshouse San Francisco (Laguna Honda Hospital site) | Not available | 43 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center | Not available | 43 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| Park Sanitarium | Not available | 43 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| San Francisco Chinese Hospital | Not available | 43 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| Sutter California Pacific Medical Center – Mission Bernal Campus | Not available | 43 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| UCSF Medical Center – Mount Zion Campus | Not available | 43 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| Public Health Service Hospital San Francisco | Not available | 45 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| San Francisco VA Medical Center | Not available | 50 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| UCSF Health St. Mary's Hospital | Not available | 50 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| Sutter California Pacific Medical Center – Davies Campus | Not available | 55 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital | Not available | 55 min Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| Sutter California Pacific Medical Center – Van Ness Campus | Not available | 1h 3m Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| UCSF Medical Center – Mission Bay Campus | Not available | 1h 5m Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| San Francisco General Hospital | Not available | 1h 13m Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| San Francisco General Hospital | Not available | 1h 13m Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
| UCSF Medical Center – Parnassus Campus | Not available | 1h 13m Typical | —Typical wait | — | — | — |
Data sources: wait times are typical waits to first assessment, or the average of visitor reports in the last hour where there are any. Overall rating, ownership, visit volume, median time spent in the ER and the share of patients who left before being seen come from the CMS Hospital Care Compare data. CMS ratings are a broad summary, not a measure of whether a hospital is right for your situation. “—” means the hospital doesn't report that measure to CMS.
Recent Patient Reports
Reports are submitted by site visitors. Wait times can change quickly and do not represent total ER visit time.
No visitor reports for San Francisco yet. Waited at one of these ERs recently? Your report helps the next person.
Report your wait time in San Francisco
Already been seen? Pick the ER and tell others how long it took.
Alternatives to the ER
Call 911 or go to the ER for chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathing trouble, major injury, a severe allergic reaction, or any symptom that may be life-threatening.
For non-emergency symptoms, these options can help you get guidance and decide whether home care, urgent care, or a trip to the ER is the right call.
Call your insurer's free 24/7 nurse line
Most health insurance plans include a free nurse advice line where a registered nurse can help you weigh your symptoms and figure out the right next step. The number is usually on the back of your insurance card.
Use urgent care or a telehealth visit
Urgent care centers and 24/7 virtual visits handle minor injuries, infections and prescriptions, usually with a far shorter wait and a lower bill than an ER visit. Check with your insurer which ones are in network.
Frequently asked questions
- Which ER in San Francisco has the shortest wait?
- Of the 17 emergency departments WaitUpdates.com tracks in San Francisco, Kentfield Hospital San Francisco currently shows the shortest wait at about 35 min (its typical wait to first assessment). ERs see the sickest patients first, so use this to compare options — never to delay care in an emergency.
- How many emergency rooms are there in San Francisco, CA?
- WaitUpdates.com lists 17 hospital emergency departments in San Francisco. Each is shown on the map and in the table on this page with its current wait estimate.
- What can I do instead of going to the ER in San Francisco?
- For something that isn't life-threatening, call the 24/7 nurse advice line on the back of your insurance card, book a telehealth visit, or go to an urgent care center. Call 911 for chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe trouble breathing, major injury or a severe allergic reaction.
Nearby cities
- Oakland, CA ER wait times6
- Berkeley, CA ER wait times2
- San Leandro, CA ER wait times5
- Martinez, CA ER wait times2
- Walnut Creek, CA ER wait times2
- Vallejo, CA ER wait times4