CIUSS de l’estrie – CHUS offers mobile parking payment
Following changes to the payment systems in the CIUSSS de l’estrie – CHUS, the institution is encouraging the public to help reduce waiting times at parking meters by using the mobile application designed for this purpose. The facility is encouraging users and visitors to install the free Passport Canada tool on their smartphones.
Using this app, which installs in less than ten minutes, allows users and visitors to the area's facilities to register their vehicle and credit card to pay for their parking permit by phone. They can also track the time remaining and extend their parking period via their device, no matter where they are. An installation guide for the Passport Canada application is available on the website:
http://www.santeestrie.qc.ca/soins-services/specialises/sejour-a-lhopital/stationnement/
The decision to adopt the new parking payment system has been made with a view to standardization, simplification of methods, and cost reduction for both users and the institution. Some old equipment had become obsolete and maintenance costs were high. The new mode of operation is much less expensive and helps prevent rate increases, since the Department of Health and Social Services requires that parking be self-financing. The chosen technology also allows for a free 30 minute period and the ability to transfer a permit from one installation to another.
The impact of changing the payment system in the parking lots has been greater than anticipated, the institution says, and in order to support users in the transition, some adjustments have been made in recent days:
Parking lots are now manned by onsite attendants; additional time clocks have been installed near busy services to make adding time easier; the timestamp home screen has been reprogrammed for ease of use; and outside parking meters have been removed from Fleurimont Hospital and repositioned internally.
Finally, the installation of new parking meters in Haute-yamaska and du Granit has also been postponed until the situation in Sherbrooke has been stabilized.
In order to predict the duration of their visit, users are advised to think ahead and use previous experiences and to consider the time of the appointment, the requested arrival time, the usual duration, and the time it takes to travel between the car and the place where they are heading. If their visit is extended, they can go to the nearest time clock or add time with the mobile application before time runs out, depending on the means initially used.
The new arrangement of rates allows the majority of users to pay less for their permit than previously. For example, patrons going to Fleurimont Hospital were required to pay $6.50 from the 31st minute of parking. However those who are unexpectedly hospitalized and have not been able to access the mobile application or a ticket machine can receive a refund equivalent to the fine received after having made a formal request to the Société Parc-auto du Québec.