Department Blog

Posted 6/17/2026 by Amanda Habib

Baltimore VA ED Experiences Record Low LWBS Week

On the week of June 1, 2026, the Department’s clinical site at the Baltimore VA Emergency Department (ED) reported a record low left-without-being-seen (LWBS) rate.

Out of 329 patient encounters, the VA ED reporting 0 LWBS patients—a remarkable accomplishment for an urban medical center. Of those 329 patients, the door to doctor rate was a mere 21 minutes.

In the past year, the VA ED has worked to significantly expand and improve its services. As a result, the facility has experienced drastically reduced LWBS rates and decreased arrival-to-provider times.

Based on its clinical accomplishments, Department of Veterans Affairs recently changed the status of the VA ED to a low-vulnerability Department—recognizing the site’s high-quality service and care to veterans within the Baltimore community.