Providence ER Wait Times (Providence Health Care)
Providence Health Care publishes wait times for 2 hospital ERs. We are an independent site, not affiliated with Providence: we show its numbers as published and link to the official page.
2 of 2 reportingSource: official sources
Right now· 9 in 10 patients seen within
2 of 2 ERs reporting
Providence emergency wait times right now
How Providence calculates its wait times
“9 in 10 patients seen within”
'Wait Time' is the time it takes for almost all patients – 9 out of every 10 who visit the ED – to be seen by a physician. This is also known as the 90th percentile and is the time in which 90% of all people seeking care will be seen. Some people, about 10%, may have to wait longer than this time. Wait time refers to the length of time between being assessed by a triage nurse and seeing a doctor or nurse practitioner.
People with the most urgent needs are always seen first, so your own wait may be shorter or longer. edwaittimes.ca’s definition
British Columbia ER wait times by city
About Providence Health Care
Providence Health Care is a Catholic not-for-profit health care society that runs St. Paul's Hospital and Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver, among 18 locations across the Lower Mainland, under an affiliation agreement with Vancouver Coastal Health. Both emergency departments publish their waits on edwaittimes.ca.
Sources: providencehealthcare.org, www2.gov.bc.ca (PDF), Wikipedia
ER, urgent care or walk-in clinic?
Emergency department
Serious problems that need a hospital, any time: broken bones, deep cuts, severe pain, or a fever in a baby under 3 months.
Urgent care
Problems that are not life-threatening but need care today: sprains, minor cuts and burns, infections. Hours are often limited.
Walk-in clinics
Minor problems such as colds, sore throats, rashes or prescription refills are often quicker here.
Not sure where to go?
Call HealthLink BC at 811 to talk to a nurse. About HealthLink BC
Call 911
Chest pain or pressure, signs of a stroke, severe bleeding, trouble breathing, a serious injury, or someone who will not wake up.
Providence wait time questions
What are Providence ER wait times right now?
At 5:25 pm PDT, the shortest published ER wait was St. Paul's Hospital at 1 hour 45 minutes. The median across 2 reporting ERs was 1 hour 53 minutes. Numbers change through the day, so check the list above before you go.
How are Providence emerg wait times calculated?
edwaittimes.ca publishes "9 in 10 patients seen within": 'Wait Time' is the time it takes for almost all patients – 9 out of every 10 who visit the ED – to be seen by a physician. This is also known as the 90th percentile and is the time in which 90% of all people seeking care will be seen. Some people, about 10%, may have to wait longer than this time. Wait time refers to the length of time between being assessed by a triage nurse and seeing a doctor or nurse practitioner.
These measures can differ in their starting point and statistic. Compare estimates within the same measurement group. Patients with the most urgent needs are seen first.
Source: edwaittimes.ca
How often are Providence ER wait times updated?
Providers publish estimates on different schedules. Our checks are separate from those updates, and the displayed number may stay the same after a check. Each listing shows its available timestamp; check the source-specific frequencies below.
| Source | Provider updates | Our checks |
|---|---|---|
| edwaittimes.ca | About every 5 minutes | Every 5 minutes |
Does Providence publish a wait for every site?
Yes. Every ER listed on this page has a published wait estimate.
Is the new St. Paul's Hospital ER open yet?
Not yet. The new St. Paul's Hospital at 1002 Station Street has finished construction and is expected to open to patients in early 2027. Until the move, the emergency department stays at 1081 Burrard Street, open 24 hours a day. In an emergency, call 911.
Which Providence Health Care emergency departments are open 24 hours?
St. Paul's Hospital, at 1081 Burrard Street, is open 24 hours a day and sees all ages. Mount Saint Joseph Hospital's emergency department, at 3080 Prince Edward Street, is open 8 am to 8 pm, and edwaittimes.ca warns of long waits there after 6 pm because more people arrive. After 8 pm, go to St. Paul's or another 24-hour ER, or call 911.
Is Providence Health Care part of Vancouver Coastal Health?
No. Providence Health Care is a separate organization that runs St. Paul's and Mount Saint Joseph hospitals, inside Vancouver Coastal Health's region. Both post their waits on edwaittimes.ca beside VCH's sites, measured the same way.
Is this the official Providence website?
No. ERWaitTimes.ca is an independent site, not affiliated with Providence Health Care. We regularly check the official estimates and link to the source. The update-frequency table above describes each feed.
Photo credits (2)
- St. Paul's Hospital: photo by Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Mount Saint Joseph Hospital: photo by Yuet Man Lee, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Medical emergency? Call 911 now.
Do not check wait times or drive yourself if you have chest pain, signs of a stroke, severe bleeding or trouble breathing. Paramedics can start treatment on the way to hospital.