<![CDATA[The Emergency Department (ED) requires rapid and continuous services, yet patient overcrowding may delay transfer to inpatient wards. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between patient characteristics, including age, sex, payment method, ward class, and triage category, and waiting time for admission from the ED at Siti Fatimah Hospital Palembang. A quantitative analytic approach with a cross-sectional design was used. The study population consisted of 5,544 ED patients recorded during October–December 2025. A total of 98 respondents were selected using purposive sampling according to the study criteria. Secondary data were obtained from medical records and the Hospital Management Information System, covering patient characteristics and service time logs until admission to an inpatient ward. Waiting time was categorized as meeting the standard when it was ≤2 hours and not meeting the standard when it was >2 hours. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted using the Chi-Square test at a significance level of 0.05. The results showed that 72 respondents (73.5%) experienced waiting times exceeding the standard. Significant associations were found between waiting time and age (p=0.012), sex (p=0.011), payment method (p=0.000), and triage category (p=0.000). Ward class was not significantly associated with waiting time (p=0.440). The highest proportion of delays occurred among patients aged 19–59 years, male patients, BPJS participants, and patients in the mild triage category. These findings indicate the need to strengthen patient-flow management, improve inpatient bed availability, and simplify administrative procedures to reduce delays in transferring patients from the ED to inpatient care.]]>
