LUMBERTON — Patients and visitors to Southeastern Regional Medical Center can now enjoy a service typically found only in larger cities — valet parking. Not only is it a more convenient way to access the hospital, but it is free. Money earned from The Gift Shop at SRMC are being used to pay for the service in an effort by the medical center to make arriving at the hospital less stressful for patients and visitors.

“Knowing that you have to find a place to park can add to an already stressful situation for patients and their family who are arriving at the facility, usually early in the morning, for a medical procedure,” said Bonnie Biggs, the coordinator of the Gift Shop. “These patients and older visitors are finding that having someone else to handle parking details is allowing them to focus on their health and the health of their loved ones.”

The SRMC Foundation is administering the service in a unique partnership that began two years ago by providing gifts, including a diaper bag, frame, onesie and blanket, to new mothers who delivered their babies at the medical center. After providing gifts for new moms for two years, the partnership focus shifted to offering valet parking through a contacted vendor.

“The foundation is about enhancing the health care services that we provide, not only to our patients, but to their families and the visitors who come to our facility each day,” said Sissy Grantham director of the foundation. “This service is allowing us to provide a convenience service to our community that goes beyond the typical, rural hospital experience.”

Since the service began on Oct. 15, approximately 30 cars are parked using the valet service each day. The service is available at the main entrance of the medical center Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and does not include holidays.