Smart parking solutions for hospital parking

Hospital parking seems to be a source of complaints almost everywhere in France. A cause of frustration and, above all, inconvenience for hospital staff, patients and visitors, it apparently satisfies no one! The reason is that parking arrangements have often not been reviewed since the building was constructed. As a result, they have not kept pace with population growth and the increasing range of transport options. While this can be a real headache for hospital management teams, solutions do exist to improve the situation. Hesion, your smart parking specialist, explains.

A constant flow of vehicles coming and going

Before tackling the heart of the issue, we need to understand why hospital car parks become so congested. First, as mentioned in the introduction, it is important to recognise that hospital attendance has risen significantly in recent decades. The latest INSEE figures list 3 111 hospitals across France, with a capacity of 410 921 beds. Added to this, of course, are all the healthcare and administrative staff. Even when dedicated staff parking is available, they cannot always find a space or face practical difficulties.

Then there are the ambulances coming and going… And all this is before counting visitors and patients attending a single medical appointment. These figures give a clear picture of the volume of traffic passing through healthcare facility car parks every day.

Smart parking solutions for hospitals

Hospital car parks therefore accommodate a very diverse range of users. Each group has very different parking needs and constraints.

Rethinking parking zones to reflect actual demand

Healthcare workers have different needs and habits from occasional users, whether patients or visitors. Parking zones therefore need to be clearly designated so that everyone can find their place, with capacity that reflects actual traffic levels. These zones must be clearly defined. Ideally, the public should not be able to park in staff-only areas, enabling better traffic management. Smart parking offers a wide range of solutions to achieve this. While planning routes in advance is crucial, number plate recognition can be an effective way to regulate vehicle movements within designated zones.

Improving signage for smoother traffic flow

Easier car park access through number plate recognition can also improve traffic flow. This access solution is estimated to increase vehicle entry throughput by a factor of 7. Compared with a conventional parking solution, this can allow 600 cars to park every hour. Dynamic guidance also plays a key role in smart parking solutions. By directing drivers towards available spaces, it prevents congestion in certain aisles while significantly improving traffic flow throughout the car park. Some smart parking solutions can even reserve a space for an arriving vehicle, providing an additional service for employees in a hurry or people with reduced mobility.

Innovating for a better overall parking service

Today, smart parking solutions can deliver parking services ranging from the simplest to the most sophisticated. While profitability inevitably plays a part, these solutions also help improve users' daily lives. This is particularly important in hospitals, where the circumstances of a visit are not always easy. It is even possible to identify vehicles at individual parking spaces. After a difficult day or a stressful night shift, an employee would no longer have to remember where they parked, thanks to geolocation! A convenience that is always appreciated!

While frustration among hospital car park users continues to grow, smart parking solutions are already available and ready to implement! Hesion supports you at every stage of creating or upgrading your hospital car park. With more than 25 years of specialist experience, we develop smart parking solutions that combine innovation, profitability and ease of use. To find out more about our smart parking solutions for healthcare facilities, contact our teams Monday to Friday by telephone on +33 (0)1.39.22.07.50 or by email at contact@hesion.fr.