Parking changes will provide more space for patients in decks

If you park in the parking decks that service AU Medical Center, CHOG, or our clinics in the MOB, chances are you’ve seen our patients, families and visitors circling our decks searching for an open parking space. How frustrating it must be to deal with a medical issue or come to visit a loved one at the hospital and also have to worry about parking.

As a leader in Patient- and Family-Centered Care, we must put our patients and families first. The patient experience begins upon arrival, and we must alleviate parking problems for our patients, families and guests. This one amenity says a lot about how important they are to us.

As we’ve mentioned previously in our weekly newsletters, we have been studying the parking situation in Deck 1 (15th Street), Deck 2 (MOB), and Deck 3 (CHOG). Unfortunately, the results show that of 2,126 available parking spaces, only 947 spaces remain allocated for patients, families and guests.

To this end, we must ask ourselves, “What message are we sending to our patients and families?”

By addressing patient parking in our decks, we will improve the experience of our patients by improving their access to the facilities where they receive care.

In the coming months as part of Augusta University’s overarching parking program, we will begin the process of reassigning a significant number of employees who currently park in the decks to perimeter parking areas. Beginning Oct. 16, 209 employees will be moved to spaces that recently have been opened in Lot 55, across from the Annex building in the former Kroger parking lot. Additionally, a new parking area near the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home is now available, and we will continue the process of reassigning approximately 200 employees to this perimeter parking lot.

We know that we are asking our employees to not only make a sacrifice for our patients, but to also adjust the timing and destination of your daily commute. However, we want to assure you that we are working to make the transition as safe, convenient and efficient as possible.

To this end, we have:

• Added an additional JagExpress shuttle between Lot 55 and the Medical Center/Medical Office Building drop-off, operating Monday – Friday, 5:30 – 8:30 a.m. and 4 – 9 p.m. This express shuttle will provide a direct route between the Medical Center and Lot 55 during the times listed above.
• Extended the hours of the current JagExpress Green/Gold route to 9 p.m. every weekday.
• Ensured that all JagExpress vehicles are ADA compliant.
• A free app called SmartTraxx, a real-time bus tracking application that will provide the exact location of the JagExpress as well as other related information, is available for download from your phone’s app store
• Bolstered our Public Safety patrols to provide coverage of the perimeter parking areas throughout the business day.
• Completed a light study and added lights in perimeter parking areas to ensure adequate overhead illumination is provided.
• Created a feedback form where employees may voice concerns, ask questions or report any issues  (Submit your feedback here.)

All employees identified for reassignment during October will receive individual communications detailing additional information about your new parking allocation. As we work to identify and ready additional perimeter parking areas, we will communicate updates via PAWS, Jagwire News, and email to keep everyone informed.

We appreciate your compassion for our patients, as well as your patience as we work to demonstrate our best efforts in Patient- and Family-Centered Care.

Sincerely,

Lee Ann Liska                           Shawn Vincent                          Laura Brower
AU Medical Center, CEO       AU Medical Center, COO         AU Medical Center, CNO

Dr. Kevin Dellsperger                Greg Damron                           Joe Thornton
AU Medical Center, CMO          AU Medical Center, CFO      Ambulatory Care Services, VP