A: People wait in emergency departments for many reasons. 

Some of these include:

• Waiting while the sickest patients are seen first.   
• Overcrowding due to epidemics such as the flu. Also, unlike a doctor’s office where appointments are scheduled, many emergency patients may arrive at once.   
• Waiting of X-Ray and Laboratory results. (Some test results take longer than others.)   
• Waiting of consultations for specialist physicians.