Becker’s has compiled a list of hospitals with the highest percentages of patients who left the emergency department without being seen using data from CMS’ provider data catalog.
CMS’ Timely and Effective Care dataset, updated May 13, tracks self-reported data on the percentage of patients who left an ED before being seen in 2024. The measure applies to hospitals paid under the inpatient or outpatient prospective payment systems, as well as hospitals that voluntarily report data for Medicare, Medicare managed care and non-Medicare patients. VA and Defense Department hospitals are included in national averages. Read the full methodology here.
Note: LWBS rates vary significantly across hospitals for reasons this dataset does not capture. Trauma centers tend to report higher rates given patient complexity; safety-net hospitals often report higher rates due to crowding, boarding and a higher share of Medicaid and uninsured patients. Rural and suburban hospitals typically report lower rates because patients have fewer nearby alternatives, though lower volumes mean even a handful of departures can register as a high percentage.
To effectively assess ED performance, experts recommend benchmarking against a cohort of similar facilities. For a deeper look at how leaders can build a more accurate picture of ED performance, read more here.
Below are 22 hospitals with the highest LWBS rates:
Note: Due to a input error, incorrect data related to Anna Jaques Hospital’s left without being seen rate (LWBS) was reported to CMS for 2024. The hospital has submitted updated data to CMS, including its correct LWBS rate of 3.4% for 2024.
| Hospital | LWBS rate | Sample size (2024) |
| Anna Jaques Hospital (Newburyport, Mass.) | 23% | 19,211 |
| Methodist Hospitals of Memphis (Tenn.) | 16% | 266,940 |
| Garnet Health Medical Center Catskills (Callicoon, N.Y.) | 15% | 40 |
| South Sunflower County Hospital (Indianola, Miss.) | 14% | 9,539 |
| St. Bernard Hospital (Chicago) | 14% | 33,367 |
| Providence Medford (Ore.) Medical Center | 13% | 34,543 |
| Oroville (Calif.) Hospital | 13% | 26,276 |
| University of Chicago Medical Center | 12% | 101,468 |
| George Washington University Hospital (Washington, D.C.) | 12% | 53,634 |
| Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital | 11% | 75,418 |
| Temple University Hospital (Philadelphia) | 11% | 161,181 |
| Elliot Hospital (Manchester, N.H.) | 11% | 59,794 |
| Kern Medical Center (Bakersfield, Calif.) | 11% | 59,892 |
| Banner-University Medical Center South Campus (Tucson, Ariz.) | 11% | 44,619 |
| Lexington Medical Center (West Columbia, S.C.) | 10% | 98,102 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, Miss.) | 10% | 101,371 |
| MercyOne Waterloo (Iowa) Medical Center | 10% | 15,611 |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago) | 10% | 100,759 |
| Thorek Memorial Hospital (Chicago) | 10% | 9,164 |
| NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston (Ill.) Hospital | 10% | 120,626 |
| MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, D.C.) | 10% | 42,279 |
| Ridgecrest (Calif.) Regional Hospital | 10% | 18,715 |
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.