Securing Regional Prosperity by Promoting Transit

Megan Remark, President and CEO, Regions HospitalAt Regions Hospital, we are proud to be part of the nation’s largest consumer‐governed, nonprofit health care organization, and we are proud of our leading edge treatment, integrated specialty care, and our responsibilities as a Level I Trauma Center.   First established in 1872 by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners as City and County Hospital, we know from our history that a truly healthy and prosperous community is all about partnerships.  We see these partnerships, including the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership, as part of our promise to promote community health and be here for everyone. 

This edition of the Anchor Update reports on how Regions reflected on the Partnership’s goal of promoting transit, and decided to contribute to progress by offering free Metropasses to all of our employees.  We know that this move not only will benefit participating employees, but contributes to multiple layers of benefit for our organization and the community.  Saving on parking infrastructure allows us to devote more resources to our talented workforce and innovations in health care.  Many people are aware of the environmental benefits of taking transit, but what is less widely understood is that transit offers clear benefits to our health.  Who knew that a simple transit pass could do so much to build health and prosperity?

-- Megan Remark, President & CEO, Regions Hospital

Regions Hospital Offers Employees Free Metropass

With the METRO Green Line just outside its front door, leaders at Regions Hospital have announced that employees can obtain monthly Metropasses at no direct cost.  A Metropass provides unlimited rides on fares up to $3 and can be used to ride light rail, as well as any local or express bus. Regions will fully cover the cost of the pass for its employees.Metropass Card

This major move by Regions sets a strong example in the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership, which seeks to increase transit use among all anchor partners by 5% in five years through improved transit pass options and increased transit marketing and outreach.  More than a dozen Regions employees will begin using a Metropass this month and Terry Gustafson, Parking Manager at Regions Hospital, expects interest will quickly grow once employees learn of the opportunity.

Best Practices Toolkit

The Partnership worked with Metro Transit to develop a Transit Toolkitto aid partners through a “Best Practices Checklist for the Multimodal Institution.”  Regions plans to utilize this toolkit by adding transit information to its website and promoting the Green Line and other options to employees and visitors.  The Green Line’s Robert Street Station is just a block west of Regions.  

“With 3,100 employees, parking is a major challenge,” Gustafson said. “Having access to transit will relieve some of the burden on our parking areas, benefit the environment and help employees lead healthier lifestyles.”  Regions previously offered employees a 25 percent discount on a 31-Day transit pass. Employees have expressed more interest in transit since the Green Line opened, prompting the switch to the Metropass program.

Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb said companies like Regions that invest in transportation options not only provide a great benefit for their employees but create more opportunity to invest in talent and critical infrastructure.  “Like many Twin Cities employers, Regions is grappling with the best way to handle organizational growth,” he said. “Providing employees a cost-effective alternative to driving is a great way to ease parking demands while allowing companies to focus resources on their primary mission.”

Transit an Investment in Health

Regions CEO Megan Remark also highlighted that transit is an important strategy to promote community health.  “We learned through our community health needs assessment that unfortunately, the percentage of obese adults in Minnesota has increased significantly from 15.3% in 1995 to 25.40% in 2010,” she said.  This assessment also reported that in 2010, a higher percentage of 9th and 12th graders in Ramsey County were overweight and obese as their same age peers in Dakota and Washington counties.  “We know that better nutrition and exercise are key strategies to address this problem,” Remark noted.  “And people who take transit average 30% more steps each day.” 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that adults average at least 22 minutes of daily moderate physical activity, such as walking, to reduce their risk of heart disease, obesity, stroke and diabetes.  Although less than half of American adults achieve this target of 22 minutes or more, most public transportation passengers do exercise the recommended amount while walking to and from transit stations and stops.  Read more at The Health Benefits of Walking + Transit.

C3 Fellow Profile: Alfred Djei

C3 Fellow, Alfred DjeiAlfred Djei is dedicated, responsible, and thoughtful in his personal life.  His commitment to these values has carried through to his professional life choices. Currently a surgical instrument technician at Regions Hospital, Alfred gives credit to the C3 Fellows Program for helping him with his biggest challenge in school: the fear of graduating without employment.   

Previously a video broadcasting professional from the Ivory Coast, Alfred immigrated to Minnesota to be with his wife, and was determined to become successful in the United States.  In 2012, at age 34, Alfred was a student at Minneapolis Community & Technical College (MCTC) studying for a technician certification. While he was studying to become certified, a great fear came over Alfred.  “I was drawn to be a student at MCTC because they have every specialty in healthcare you want to study,” Alfred said. “But I also needed a job and I didn’t know how to maximize my resume in school.”

Landing a Mentor

Feeling overwhelmed with the pressure for his studies to lead to gainful employment, Alfred went to MCTC’s Career Services Center, and happened upon a C3 Fellows program poster.  The Central Corridor College (C3) Fellows program connects MCTC and Saint Paul College students to healthcare employers.  It is one key strategy for the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership to pursue its goal of hiring more local residents, especially in health care careers.  The Partnership hopes to boost the percentage of local residents in the anchor institutions’ workforce by five points to 18% in five years. 

Alfred contacted Brian Mogren, career counselor and C3 Fellowship program coordinator, and a successful mentorship began.  “Brian was able to give me the point of view of an employer insider,” Alfred explained. “Every question I had was answered -- if I emailed a question at 11:05, I had my answer by 11:07.” 

Brian’s reliable guidance became a beacon for Alfred.  “He worked with me on matters specific to me,” Alfred said.  This high touch attention allowed some of Alfred’s fears to subside, so that he could start mentally focusing on his certification.  He then successfully applied to become a C3 Fellow.

A Fellowship with Results

After being accepted to the C3 Fellowship, Alfred’s engagement with his specific interests in healthcare began to flourish.  He not only renewed his commitment to study and focus on his certification, but he found new energy for job exploration.  Under Brian’s direction, Alfred became exposed to networking opportunities, career fairs, and volunteer positions.  “I wouldn’t have found these things,” he noted, “without being a C3 Fellow.” 

Alfred decided to volunteer at Regions Hospital and he began volunteering with surgical instrument technicians.  “It is a great place,” Alfred said. “My peers were friendly and professional.”

As it turns out, Alfred’s peers and supervisors must have felt the same way.  After Alfred received his certification, he began employment at Regions Hospital as a surgical instrument technician.  Alfred takes his job very seriously and is dedicated to expanding his impact in his specific field. 

And Alfred is not done with his education.  Currently enrolled in business management classes at MCTC while working at Regions, Alfred is a very busy, and very happy professional student.  He feels that his C3 Fellowship keeps on bringing benefits.  “Brian and I still keep in touch,” Alfred affirmed.   “He helps me with each new direction I take.”