Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael Wait Times (ER)
San Rafael, California · ER
Page last updated
Official / estimated
Estimated wait to first assessment
Typical range 30 min – 55 min
This hospital doesn't publish a live ER wait. Based on the typical wait to first assessment recorded for this hospital.
Typical wait times at Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael
- Time to first assessment (triage / provider)
- 30 min – 55 min
- ER arrival to hospital admission (if admitted)
- 2h 40m – 4h
- Total ER visit (if discharged)
- 3h 30m – 5h 40m
Typical ranges based on community reports and historical patterns. Actual waits vary with patient volume and how urgent each case is.
About Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael
Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael provides detailed ER wait time information to help you understand what to expect during your visit.
- Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center provides comprehensive emergency and specialty care in Marin County.
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Reported by visitors
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Best time to visit the ER at Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael
Not enough history yet to call a best time.
This pattern is built from the waits we record at Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael around the clock. It appears once every hour of the day has several readings behind it, rather than guessing from a thin sample.
In the meantime: across US emergency departments, evenings between about 6 PM and midnight are typically the busiest, and early mornings are usually quietest. Monday is often the heaviest weekday.
Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael wait time graph
No wait history for this hospital yet.
We chart the last 24 hours of published waits here, alongside any wait times visitors report. There aren't enough readings for Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael to draw a line yet.
Waited here recently? Submitting your wait above is the fastest way to get this graph started.
Location & emergency contacts
99 Montecillo Rd
San Rafael, CA 94903
- 988988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text, 24/7, anywhere in the US
- 1-800-222-1222Poison ControlPoisoning, overdose or medication emergencies, 24/7
Not sure you need the ER? Call the 24/7 nurse advice line on the back of your insurance card.
Nearby ERs outside San Rafael
The closest emergency departments in neighboring communities — worth the drive when the local wait is long. Distances are straight-line, so allow more for real roads.
| Hospital | Distance | Wait | Source | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentfield HospitalKentfield | 3.1 mi | 35 min | Typical | — |
| Kaiser Richmond Medical CenterRichmond | 11 mi | 40 min | Typical | — |
| Doctors Medical CenterSan Pablo | 12 mi | 45 min | Typical | — |
| Novato Community HospitalNovato | 6.5 mi | 48 min | Typical | — |
| Kaiser South San Francisco Medical CenterSouth San Francisco | 15 mi | 48 min | Typical | — |
| MarinHealth Medical CenterGreenbrae | 4.0 mi | 58 min | Typical | — |
Tips for visiting the ER in San Rafael
Call 911 instead if it's severe
Chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs, heavy bleeding, or a serious injury — call 911 rather than driving. Paramedics start treatment on the way and you are assessed on arrival instead of joining the queue.
Bring your insurance card, ID and a medication list
Bring your health insurance card, photo ID, and a written list of your medications, doses and allergies. Federal law (EMTALA) means an emergency department must screen and stabilize you whether or not you have insurance — never skip care over coverage.
Expect to be seen by severity, not arrival
Triage means the sickest patient goes first, so the posted wait is an estimate for an average patient. Tell the triage nurse immediately if your symptoms change or get worse while you are waiting — that can change your priority.
Check the wait before you leave, and compare other San Rafael options
Waits move by the hour. Refresh this page just before you set off, and compare against the other departments listed further down — a longer drive can still mean a shorter total time.
Call a nurse line first if you're unsure
Most health insurers and hospital systems run a free 24/7 nurse advice line — the number is usually on the back of your insurance card. A nurse can tell you whether an emergency visit is warranted, or whether urgent care, telehealth or waiting until morning is safe.
Bring someone, and something to do
Emergency departments run 24/7 and waits of several hours are common. Bring a phone charger, water, any regular medication you take, and if you can, someone who can speak for you and drive you home.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the current ER wait time at Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael?
- Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael does not publish a live emergency wait time. WaitUpdates.com shows an estimate of about 43 min to first assessment (typically 30 min – 55 min) instead, based on the typical waits recorded for Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael. Treat it as a rough guide — call the hospital for anything time-sensitive.
- How long does a full ER visit take at Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael?
- Longer than the wait to be seen. At Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael, if you are admitted, the time from arriving in the ER to getting a hospital bed is typically 2h 40m – 4h, and if you are treated and sent home, the whole visit typically takes 3h 30m – 5h 40m. Tests, imaging and specialist consults all add time after the first assessment, so plan for a long stay even when the waiting room looks quiet.
- How many emergency departments are there in San Rafael?
- Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael is the only hospital department WaitUpdates.com tracks in San Rafael. The nearest alternatives are in other communities — see the nearby emergency rooms listed on this page, with driving distances.
- Should I go to the emergency room with the shortest wait time?
- Not necessarily. US emergency departments triage by severity (most use the 5-level Emergency Severity Index), not arrival order, so a sicker patient arriving after you is seen first. A department showing a longer posted wait may still treat you sooner if your condition is urgent, and the posted figure is an estimate for average patients, not a promise. Use the shortest wait to choose between comparable options — never to decide whether to seek care at all.
- Where does WaitUpdates.com get Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael's wait times?
- Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael publishes no live figure, so the headline number is an estimate. Visitor reports on this page are shown separately and are never blended into the official number, because a handful of reports can be skewed easily.
- Is Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael open 24 hours?
- Hospital emergency departments in California, including Kaiser Foundation Hospital – San Rafael, are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. Urgent care and walk-in clinics keep shorter hours, so check before traveling to one of those instead.
- What should I do if the wait in San Rafael is long?
- This page lists the 6 nearest emergency departments outside San Rafael with their current waits and distance, so you can weigh a drive against a wait. You can also call the 24/7 nurse advice line on the back of your insurance card to speak with a registered nurse about where to go. For something non-urgent, an urgent care center, a telehealth visit or a pharmacist can often help with far less wait. If symptoms are severe or worsening, call 911 — long waits are never a reason to avoid emergency care.
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⚠️ Wait times shown are estimates based on community reports and historical patterns, and are not endorsed by the hospital. Actual waits vary with patient volume and case severity. In an emergency, call 911.