Individuals who frequently visit friends and family being treated at UNC Hospitals not only have to sacrifice their time, but also a significant sum of money. Under current pricing strategies put in place by the Department of Public Safety, visitors must pay a maximum of $8 a day in parking fees. These charges put a burden on guests, and it is essential that UNC address this issue by replicating the practices of nearby hospitals.
Duke Hospital, WakeMed Hospital and Novant Health have addressed this undue hardship by making extended parking permits available to frequent visitors. Visitors to Duke Hospital are required to pay a daily parking fee of $6. However, a 10-day reduced rate is available for $25.
UNC should follow suit and implement a similar pricing strategy that would reduce parking prices for five or 10-day increments. This would make parking more accessible to visitors in terms of affordability.
Hospital social workers assist with any transportation-related needs the families of patients have. However, they must also address problems related to these people’s access to food and shelter. If DPS were to address this issue at its root, these social workers could focus more on the basic needs of these individuals.
This reform could potentially interest non-visitors looking to bypass expensive parking permits needed elsewhere on campus by parking at the hospital instead.
However, this issue could easily be avoided by offering a limited number of reduced-rate parking permits per long-term patient.
This adjustment would allow those looking to use parking services for an extended period of time the opportunity to see their loved ones without facing a monumental burden.
