University of Rochester Medical Center Solves Unique Problems with T2 Flex

The University of Rochester Medical Center is one of the top academic medical centers in the United States, and serves as the centerpiece of the University’s health research, teaching, patient care, and community outreach missions. The complex is anchored by Strong Memorial Hospital, a 739-bed University-owned teaching hospital which boasts programs that consistently rank among “America’s Best Hospitals,” according to U.S. News & World Report.

Medical staff, students, patients, and visitors each have unique priorities and parking needs, and with limited space accommodating each group properly is a significant challenge. Since implementing T2 Flex, the UR Medical Center has been able to solve countless parking problems, increase revenue, and improve customer satisfaction.

Flexible Permits Designed for Multiple Demographics 

All of the UR Medical Center’s lots are gated, and the dynamic nature of T2 Flex PARCS allows them to provide access for different groups at different times of the day. For example, access to the main garage is only available to patients and visitors during the daytime hours, but employees and students can use their permits to access the garage after 2:15 PM. Doctors are also given access to all close-in facilities after hours in case of an emergency.

Unified System Improved Compliance

URMC uses AVI readers for gate entry and exit. These readers only allow permit holders to enter their assigned lot, but will allow exit from any lot. With the previous system, many staff members parked in patient lots because they could pull a visitor ticket, then exit freely (a clear violation). Now the T2 Flex PARCS unified solution records any parker who commits this violation, and he or she is automatically issued an electronic citation via email. This “not so fast” solution is only possible due to the fact that Flex is a unified solution that keeps all the data about where, when and how customers park in one database.

“It’s been a major help in our main garage,” said June Gehrs, Information Analyst. “We used to have several hundred staff parking in the garage daily. Now that number is closer to ten, adding thousands of dollars a day to our revenue”

Limited Space Requires Careful Analysis

The ease of Flex data collection has been a major step forward for URMC’s analysis of its parking operation. “We fill up our lots everyday,” said Patricia Hudson, Parking Operations Manager. “We just lost two lots to new construction, so we are constantly analyzing how to make the best use of our parking resources.” T2 Flex PARCS allows URMC to analyze all space counts and permit counts to determine what operational changes need to be made to provide the most convenient access for priority parkers.

T2 Services Improve Traffic Flows

“Because we fill our lots everyday, we have signage that directs our overflow traffic to other lots that do not require a permit. The system allows us to use occupancy counts to redirect traffic when our main lots are full,” Hudson said. The medical center also has an iPhone app (left) that gives parkers real-time updates about parking availability in each lot. The app uses data available in real time using T2 Flex Web Services. “The app has only been running for a little over a year, and we’re already averaging 1,212 users a month,” said Gehrs.

Parkers can now pull up the app and determine their route before arriving at the medical center. This clears up traffic congestion, and keeps smiles on parkers’ faces.

eBusiness Improves Employee and Customer Satisfaction

T2 eBusiness solutions are designed to shorten lines at the parking office and save time and headaches for parking employees and customers. URMC has taken advantage of these solutions and added programs to provide additional convenience.

“The implementation of eBusiness has been a huge time saver for our staff and our customers,” Hudson said. “We now also use auto-renewal for our permits, meaning our parkers don’t have to do anything to renew their parking. Unless they opt out, a new permit is automatically sent to their home each year. This saves our parking office staff a tremendous amount of time and removes the burden of yearly renewal from our parkers.”

About T2 Systems, Inc.

Started in 1994, T2 Systems is a technology-focused parking system provider with deep roots in the evolving parking industry. This commitment is evident in T2’s quality products and services, thought leadership and strong customer relationships. With its proven, unified solutions, T2 Systems is trusted by close to 400 organizations in the US and Canada including universities, cities, towns, hospitals and parking operators. T2 Systems is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and has virtual offices throughout the United States and Canada. For additional information about T2 Systems, Inc. products and services, visit www.T2systems.com.