In a significant move to enhance patient and visitor experience, Parkin has announced a collaboration with Dubai Health Authority to implement a smart parking management system across its facilities. This initiative is a direct response to feedback from patients and visitors, aimed at facilitating access and ensuring adequate parking availability. The first phase of this system was launched yesterday at Rashid Hospital, with plans for future expansions to accommodate the growing needs of patients and visitors, thereby streamlining their access to health services.
Free Parking for Patients and Visitors
According to Parkin, parking will be free for patients, while visitors can enjoy three hours of complimentary parking. Furthermore, two companions of admitted patients will receive 24 hours of free parking. The new system will leverage automatic number plate recognition technology for eligibility verification. Patients can register their vehicles through the Dubai Health Authority app when booking an appointment or upon arrival at the reception, whereas visitors must provide information about the patient they are visiting to register their vehicles at the reception. The usual parking fees will apply to non-patients using the facilities, with a grace period of 30 minutes for drop-off or pick-up, and a charge of AED 10 per hour for non-eligible vehicles.
Responding to Overcrowding Issues
Previously reported by Emirates Today, numerous patients had expressed concerns regarding overcrowding in Rashid Hospital’s parking spaces and the difficulty in finding available spots. In response, Dubai Health Authority committed to developing comprehensive solutions to enhance access and had been working on launching an integrated parking management system.
System Details and Benefits
The partnership between Parkin and Dubai Health Authority marks a concerted effort to improve the overall experience for patients and their visitors. Starting at Rashid Hospital as part of a “patient first” strategy, the implementation of the new parking system will ensure easier access to the hospital’s facilities. Notably, the Dubai Health Authority will continue to provide free parking for patients during their stay, regardless of the duration, which extends to those visiting emergency rooms, medical consultations, laboratory tests, and appointments without prior bookings.
After registering their vehicle, hospital visitors will receive three hours of free parking daily, with the possibility of requesting extensions. Additionally, companions of inpatients are allowed to park free for 24 hours, also with extension options. Special provisions remain for people of determination, senior citizens, and pregnant women, who will continue to receive complimentary parking upon verifying eligibility. Employee vehicles will also be registered in the system to ensure smooth entry, while standard parking fees apply to non-visitors, maintaining the 30-minute grace period to facilitate passenger pick-up and drop-off.
Enhancing the Patient Journey
The new system’s technology relies on automatic number plate recognition for tracking vehicle entry and exit times while electronically verifying eligibility for free parking. Patients can register their vehicle information via the Dubai Health Authority app during their appointment booking or at the hospital’s reception when presenting their ID. Similarly, visitors can register their vehicles at reception by providing the patient’s details for verification. Should a visitor need to stay longer than their free parking period, they can consult with the reception to check their eligibility for an extension. Additional services such as vehicle valet, washing, and electric vehicle charging will also be available.
According to Khalifa Baqir, Executive Director of Operations at Dubai Health Authority, “We aim to enhance the patient experience throughout their journey, starting from their arrival at our facilities, reaffirming our commitment to the ‘patient first’ principle. The development of the digital parking management system directly addresses feedback we have received from patients and visitors.”
Osama Hashim Al-Safi, Executive Director of Operations at Parkin, remarked, “Our partnership with Dubai Health Authority underscores our shared commitment to improving the experience for patients and visitors by providing smarter, more efficient transportation solutions. Given the unique demands of medical facilities, we opted for advanced parking management technologies to alleviate congestion.”
Key Points
• Free parking will be provided for patients and companions, with visitors granted three hours of free parking.
• Non-visitors will incur a fee of AED 10 per hour.