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Faster than a speeding grocery cart! More powerful than flyer coupons! Able to deliver instant savings in a single swipe! ’ Introducing in Hamilton, Burlington, Dundas Oakville Visitors to the parking lots at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (O'IMH) will soon have the option of paying their parking fees by VISA or Effective Monday, Jan. 18th, the Hospital will be introducing an innova- tive system of self-service machines that will result in a more efficient paik- ing program. The new system will require visitors leaving the lot to pay for their parking at a pay-station prior to retrieving their car. The current sys- tem of paying at the exit will be elimi- nated. “The new parking system is com- pletely automated,” said Richard Clark, Vice-President, Human Resources Operations. “Although this system puts more onus on the visitor to the lot, it is expected to create a more efficient parking system overall.” OTMH introduces self-serve parking fee scheme Monday Visitors currently entering the park- ing lot are issued a parking ticket which they hand over to the guard when exit- ing the lot. The new automated system will incorporate three easy steps: CI Vlsitors are encouraged to keep their parking stub with them when they lave their car. El Before retrieving their vehicle vis- itors will make their payment at one of the self-service machines located in Obstetrics and on the main floor of the parking garage by the elevator lobby. Payment can be made by following the instructions that are indicated on the screen. Payments may be made with cash, VISA or MasterCard. The validat- ed parking stub is returned to the patron who then has 15 minutes to exit the lot. CI At the garage exit, the validated parking stub is inserted into the card reader to raise the gate. “The automated pay stations will produce change and will issue receipts Richard Clark, vice-president of human resources and planning at OTMH, tries out the new self- serve parking ticket machine at the hospital. when requested,” said Clark. The main exit gate is equipped with a “help” button that will provide any- one with assistance if there is trouble with the gate. In addition, there will be an “escape lane” for people to pull into when encountering problems so as to avoid line-ups. The maternity parking lot will also be serviced by an automated machine thereby standardizing of the OTMH parking lots. The decision to replace the existing equipment was prompted by the age of the equipment and the number of costly repairs required. The current equipment breaks down, on average, 15 times a month. Personnel currently working in the parking kiosk are contracted from Meadowvale Security Systems. They will be reassigned to alternate sites.