Marketplace - Canadian Hospital Parking Fee Rip-off
- Thread starter TOman
- Start date
I can understand how the hospital can charge such horribly high parking rates.
If a single hospitalized patient can have 5 to 10 vistors at one time when the limit
is 2 or 3 there is little the hospital can do to accomodate the demand for parking
space. I notice a lot of hospital staff have to commute by public transportation so
I think it is obviously a penalty for those without medical problems as well.
If a single hospitalized patient can have 5 to 10 vistors at one time when the limit
is 2 or 3 there is little the hospital can do to accomodate the demand for parking
space. I notice a lot of hospital staff have to commute by public transportation so
I think it is obviously a penalty for those without medical problems as well.
It's a rip-off. One of the hospital execs they interviewed (Jim Garner) has a salary of 475k. That's more than most of the docs in the hospital saving lives. Look it up on the Sunshine List. What a vomit.
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Gee, management makes good salary, outrage!!!!!
And no, parking fees are fair. Too much demand, not enough supply so there you go. And if you medical problem that severe that you cannot take public transit, I am pretty sure you can be accommodated in the ambulance?
Going daily for radiation and then back every other week for chemo, seeing the docs at other times during the week......public transit would have been on the bus all day. parking added up to a small fortune over the months. unfair yes. but on the other hand the revenue streams for health care are limited and costs rising far faster than inflation. shrinking revenues and higher costs will see more of the same going forward likely with user fees tacked on
$500k is a 'fair' salary?
I wonder if you've ever taken an ambulance, it cost you. Someone taking chemo is often too sick to drive, take TTC, or walk. Those that visit other are there because they like or really choose to be, the same with the patients.
Hospital funding is a tough nut. We don't want the hospital parking lot to be subsidized by dollars earmarked for medical services, and hospital administration is a very complex role, but there has to be a better way to go about it.
Perhaps another hospital fundraiser to buy land for parking, and let them collect a profit on some of the parking while a Doctor is allowed to "validate" parking for (e.g.) cancer patients arriving for treatment. That way the visitor parking isn't being subsidized by medical dollars but the cancer patient can still park for a more reasonable cost.
Or, I would rather see hospitals diversify their buildings: some have an in-house coffee shop or souvenir shop run by volunteers. Grow that business and rent out space at market rates (or market plus), with rent covering a parking subsidy too.
Perhaps another hospital fundraiser to buy land for parking, and let them collect a profit on some of the parking while a Doctor is allowed to "validate" parking for (e.g.) cancer patients arriving for treatment. That way the visitor parking isn't being subsidized by medical dollars but the cancer patient can still park for a more reasonable cost.
Or, I would rather see hospitals diversify their buildings: some have an in-house coffee shop or souvenir shop run by volunteers. Grow that business and rent out space at market rates (or market plus), with rent covering a parking subsidy too.
What? We want to pay even more taxes to subsidize parking lots? So high paid docs can park for free? Or people who likely have no business even driving at all? Speak for yourself!
There are some hospitals in the boonies that are the only thing for miles around where you could get the land cheap enough to give the service away, but in the cities, how would you keep the scammers from clogging the below-the-going-rate lots?
I'm truly sorry but a few hundred feet more walking would do most of us a lot of good and keep us out of hospital longer. Thsoe who need door to door won't get it parking themselves on the other side of the garage three floors up, and their friend who drops them at the door can walk back after he's parked wherever he wants to pay the freight.
If we still have unmet needs around getting people to hospital, it's no different than getting them to any other destination in the City. The private car is the last thing we should be subsidizing not the first.
There are some hospitals in the boonies that are the only thing for miles around where you could get the land cheap enough to give the service away, but in the cities, how would you keep the scammers from clogging the below-the-going-rate lots?
I'm truly sorry but a few hundred feet more walking would do most of us a lot of good and keep us out of hospital longer. Thsoe who need door to door won't get it parking themselves on the other side of the garage three floors up, and their friend who drops them at the door can walk back after he's parked wherever he wants to pay the freight.
If we still have unmet needs around getting people to hospital, it's no different than getting them to any other destination in the City. The private car is the last thing we should be subsidizing not the first.
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Best thing to get hospitals regulated is to swipe your health card as payment instead of handing money over without services being rendered. This will keep the big salaries in check.
And there should be one on every other block. Beside the playground, park and elementary school.
As for the hospital's parking structure, by law no parking space should be more than 50 paces from the farthest patient bed.
But the guy who re-stock's the greeting card racks in the gift shop appreciates your thoughts Petz. He has to pay everywhere else on his route.
People don't realize that hospitals do not get funding for parking structures.
That means, if a parking structure needs to be built/expanded/renovated/repaired, the hospital is on the hook 100% for the cost... that means securing a mortgage.
The monthly payments have to come from somewhere.
That means, if a parking structure needs to be built/expanded/renovated/repaired, the hospital is on the hook 100% for the cost... that means securing a mortgage.
The monthly payments have to come from somewhere.
No so complicated
Actually it has been done in the past,... but now the fees are just an indiscriminate tax.
FAST
Of coarse that’s how you would handle the very daunting task of,..." but in the cities, how would you keep the scammers from clogging the below-the-going-rate lots?"
Actually it has been done in the past,... but now the fees are just an indiscriminate tax.
FAST
Why is parking at a hospital different from parking anywhere else in the City? Sick people get delivered to the door. Disabled people have stickers entitling them to special privileges. There's no discount when an outpatient goes shopping, why would there be one when they go for their regular physio? The pro-tax-paid parking lobby just seem to assume we all feel as they do, and offer only abuse not reasoning when faced with those who don't.
It's not that I think these folks going to hospital—guys like me go quite regularly and often—should be inconvenienced or put to extra expense, but the pro-discount parking posters here haven't said why they think the rest of us should subsidize parking at hospitals, although FAST has finally said how: Once you have been admitted and added a hospital card to your over-fat wallet, you get a discount if you show the visit-slip the hospital staff now must find time to print and validate for you. The guy who walked or took the bus, not so much, even though he pays the same taxes as the fat-assed parkers.
So why is hospital parking worthy of tax-support?
It's not that I think these folks going to hospital—guys like me go quite regularly and often—should be inconvenienced or put to extra expense, but the pro-discount parking posters here haven't said why they think the rest of us should subsidize parking at hospitals, although FAST has finally said how: Once you have been admitted and added a hospital card to your over-fat wallet, you get a discount if you show the visit-slip the hospital staff now must find time to print and validate for you. The guy who walked or took the bus, not so much, even though he pays the same taxes as the fat-assed parkers.
So why is hospital parking worthy of tax-support?
1. Parking revenues (or profits) are often designated for hospital foundation proceeds. They are used to fund projects that are not otherwise funded by MOH dollars. The trend in larger urban centres is that the hospital foundation itself will undertake the project, and collect the benefits.
2. If you are truly in need, or plan on multiple visits for a inpatient, go to the parking office and explain your situation. Most allow for compassionate grounds exceptions and will give you a pass. Even if they don't, buying a multi-day pass is far cheaper. For example, the full day rate at Sunnybrook is something like $28. But you can buy a week-long pass for ~$50.
2. If you are truly in need, or plan on multiple visits for a inpatient, go to the parking office and explain your situation. Most allow for compassionate grounds exceptions and will give you a pass. Even if they don't, buying a multi-day pass is far cheaper. For example, the full day rate at Sunnybrook is something like $28. But you can buy a week-long pass for ~$50.
Staff have to pay for parking at hospitals too, although some hospitals give them a reduced rate.
i think it can be very hard for people to pay for parking in some cases- if a person is undergoing chemo or other recurring treatment, then the costs can be an impediment. if the person is making an average or below average income this can just add to their stress. Also the case of elderly patients in hospitals for longer stays - their families may not have enough cash to park near the hospital- again most people who make below average incomes cannot really afford this- so you see fewer visits for the elderly patients and this impacts their health.
i think these people need to be accomodated
i think these people need to be accomodated
