Fall 2009 Parking Changes

Physicians and staff parking in the West Wing garage or the Patient/Visitor garage were relocated to the rear campus garage, and we instituted stack parking with valets on the roof of the garage. We understand that this change was difficult and that, at least during the first 5 to 10 days, added time to the process of parking and getting into the hospital or MOBs. Although we have many valets available, the directions within the garage were inadequate and an unexpected number of cars needed to be accommodated.

I am grateful that the vast majority of physicians and staff were patient and understanding as we worked to improve the operation. Unfortunately, there were instances were the valets were treated badly by angry individuals. This is of course unacceptable and frustrating, since our valets are not the cause of a problem, and typically they receive very high praise for their friendliness and good service.

We have taken several steps recently to help alleviate the pressure in the back garage:

• We leased 140 spaces between the Woodland MBTA garage and Arbor Point Condominiums. I am very gratified that those spaces were filled literally overnight by staff who volunteered to park there – a real example of folks stepping up for the good of our patients and visitors.

• We are numbering the spaces throughout the garage to make it easier for the valets and staff to identify where cars are that need to be moved or retrieved.

• We are working to improve signage in the garage which will aid in remembering where you park, and will also help direct folks to the proper entrances to the hospital.

• We are refining the process to keep some spaces available for the second shift staff who arrive mid-afternoon. Because of our agreement with the City of Newton, the lights on the roof of the garage must be extinguished at 8:00 pm- the roof is not the place we want people to park who will be leaving at 11:00 pm.

• We are working to fill all spaces on the lower level to be sure they are used efficiently before starting to park on the roof. That allows us to contain stack parking to the roof area on most days. On average, we have been stacking between 60 and 140 cars per day, which can all be accommodated on the top level.

The benefits to patients from this set of changes have been quite positive. Patients no longer need to circle endlessly trying to find a spot. And we have room for valet parking for patients of the cancer center who rely heavily on that service.

Constrained parking is ultimately a symptom of our success. Patients want to be cared for by Newton-Wellesley physicians and at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in increasing numbers, and that is not the case at many of the hospitals in nearby communities.

We will continue to do everything we can to provide ample and efficient parking for our patients, visitors, physicians and staff. If you have any suggestions or feedback regarding our parking service, please send them to Gene Giromini or Dan Gross.

Thank you again for working with us through these parking changes.

From Daniel Gross
Chief Financial Officer