HomeNews & TopicsPatient and Staff SafetyGetting to work the smart way

Getting to work the smart way

Published on

 

 

As Hamilton’s largest employer, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) has an undeniable responsibility to help make our surrounding community one that’s healthy and sustainable. Several years ago, in an effort to reduce its environmental footprint and to help ease the flow of traffic around its sites, HHS launched Smart Commute, is a transit-savvy program developed by Metrolinx that helps local businesses and organizations explore effective travel options, such as walking, cycling, using public transit, carpooling, and working from a distance.

MORE: THE DIGITAL HEALTH REVOLUTION

With the population of the Greater-Toronto-Hamilton-Area (GTHA) rising to 7 million within the next 20 years, and along with our evolving climate, changing the way we think about commuting to and from work is a matter worth addressing. Hamilton Health Sciences alone employs more than 11,000 people from Hamilton and the surrounding area. Factor in volunteers, students,  families, outpatient visits, among others traveling to and from the hospital each day, and the demand on parking and ease of traffic flow around our hospital sites becomes challenging. Smart Commute has encouraged many HHS employees to choose more environmentally friendly, cost-effective modes of transportation to and from work – including carpooling and public transit – which, in turn, help to relieve the daily constraints of motor vehicle parking on site.

Since 2006, HHS’ Smart Commute initiative has been facilitated by Joceline Turner, Technical Specialist at HHS, and Rebekah Jackson-Gravely, Advanced Rehabilitation Therapist at HHS; co-chairs of the Smart Commute Hamilton program.  With support from HHS Parking Services and the local Smart Commute chapter, many initiatives have been successfully implemented at HHS over the last several years:

  • Creation and implementation of HHS-wide carpooling.
  • Creation of four secured bike shelters at four hospital sites. Since these shelters have been in place, no bike has been stolen.
  • Implementation of Emergency Ride Home: a subsidized cost for people who carpool, but unexpectedly need to take a separate vehicle home.
  • Facilitating HHS’ involvement in Commuter Challenge and Clean Air Commute: friendly competitions among Canadian organizations seeking to reduce their commuting emissions.
  • Facilitating HHS’ involvement in Carpool Week and Bike to Work Day.

“I feel that getting the bike shelters built has been one of my happiest accomplishments,” said Rebekah. “It took two years of hard work and was a huge learning experience.”

MORE: GREEN IN ACTION: MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE HOSPITAL

In 2007, Smart Commute – HHS was included in HHS’ application for the Top 100 Employers award. Due in part to Smart Commute, HHS was awarded this honour for the first time. In the same year, HHS was awarded Employer of the Year by Smart Commute GTHA.

This recognition has only pushed Rebekah and Joceline to innovate further and improve on their existing accomplishments. Their current focus is to increase staff awareness of the program and transportation options available at HHS, as supported by Smart Commute. Their ultimate goal is to reduce single-occupancy traffic, getting more people inside of fewer cars.

With the Pan Am Games only six months away, now is a critical time to consider alternative transportation options. From June 29 to August 17, 2015, residents of Hamilton and the GTHA can expect to see a significant increase in traffic across highways and in major city centres. If you’ve ever considered carpooling, now is the best time to do so. Visit www.smartcommute.ca and learn how Smart Commute can help you find an existing carpool, or create one yourself.

Latest articles

Common drug interactions with over-the-counter medications

TJ, a 45-year-old male with symptoms of a common cold (sore throat, headache, runny...

Easing the Transition to the Cloud. Modernizing made simple with integration support.

Across Canada, most hospitals and healthcare authorities recognize the need to modernize their systems....

Rovolutionizing geriatric care: Meet Canada’s leading Universal Health Hub (UHH)

Universal Health Hub (UHH) is the only Health Care Organization in Canada which is...

National efforts to guide safe, effective, and equitable use of opioids for quality pain management in children

No one should experience untreated pain. Yet, in Canada, two out of three children...

More like this

Technology enhancing safety at hospitals

Over the past few years, incidents of violence against healthcare workers has increased worldwide....

Program helps primary care providers deliver quality care, faster

In January 2021, Humber River Health (Humber) launched a program aimed at solving one...

Too much paperwork is hurting physicians, and health care

Few of us look forward to administrative tasks. For physicians, however, relentless paperwork is...

Reducing cyberattacks on Canadian health systems

“Preventing cyberattacks involves navigating trade-offs between keeping workflows efficient and reducing risk amid threats...

Help on call for medical professionals

Introduced during the pandemic, this support service became an invaluable resource for health care...

Preventing psychological harm to healthcare workers

Not too long ago over a cup of coffee, I met a remarkable woman...