Meet Eiselle Omampo

This spring, GreenCare has launched a series to celebrate the interconnection between healthy people and a healthy environment.

Meet Eiselle Omampo, Transportation Demand Management & Commuter Services Coordinator with Integrated Protection Services in the Lower Mainland Health Organizations.

Eiselle coordinates the Commuter Services Programs across all four Lower Mainland Health Care Organizations (LMHOs), which includes over 1,000 facilities across a large geographic area, including urban and rural settings. Over 65,000 employees with different needs and commuting behaviours staff these hospitals and sites, which means a wide variety of commuting options and infrastructure are needed.

Q. Tell us about your role

“I work to provide commuting options for staff from across the four LMHOs, which means that I am constantly looking for opportunities and partnerships that will support staff in accessing active and sustainable transportation modes.

By forging partnerships across the health organizations, as well as with external organizations that have additional resources. At its simplest, the Commuter Services Program aims to improve infrastructure, increase services and encourage employees to use active and clean transportation modes, which include walking, cycling, public transit use, shuttle use, carpooling, car-sharing and electric vehicle use.

The program is anchored in the belief that if each of the 65,000 Lower Mainland Health Organization employees left their car at home even one day a week, the results would be impressive. Results include cleaner air, less congestion on the roads and in parking lots, and healthier, more active staff.”

Q. You’ve been the Commuter Services Coordinator for almost four years. Tell us about some of the programs offered.

We have a range of programs from shuttle services to car-sharing discounts, cycling resources to electric vehicle charging stations.

If people want to find out more, they can visit BCGreenCare here: https://bcgreencare.ca/program/active-transportation

Click on the icon to find out more about the various services.

We are constantly trying to improve services and respond to staff needs. The challenge is that we are a small team with limited resources but we still aim to create change, as we are motivated to support staff and take action, as best we can.

Q. What is on your radar right now? What are you most excited about at the moment?

Strong mobility and transportation plans directly contribute to health communities and healthy populations. It seems that each year, there are more initiatives and increased infrastructure to strengthen transportation in the region. It’s been exciting to see car sharing become so big, as well as bike sharing and scooter sharing scheduled to launch in Vancouver this year.

I’m also excited about the partnerships we have fostered with various organizations, municipalities and crown corporations that offer various services but have the same goal – to have healthy communities, workplaces and staff.

Q. What else would you like to share with your colleagues?

There are a number of exciting campaigns coming-up that are well worth joining if you can.

The first is HUB’s Spring Bike to Work Week (BtWW), which takes place between May 30th and June 5th. It is a weeklong campaign for regular and new cyclists to log their commutes with the opportunity to win great prizes.

PHSA and VCH, both organization members of HUB for years, have won cycling awards. This year, FHA and PHC joined as organization members for the first time to show their great support for cycling. I would like to challenge our staff to register for BtWW this year to help us win more awards. Click here for more.

Right after BtWW, GreenCare hosts a health care staff specific campaign, the Clean Commuter & Wellness Challenge from June 6th – 19th. You can join this challenge whether you cycle, walk, take transit, carpool or car share to work. You can also join this campaign if you currently drive and want to try one of these modes during the two week campaign. Registration opens next week! More info at bcgreencare.ca.

Another exciting program is our latest online carpool registration. All LMHO staff and affiliated agencies employees looking to carpool with their colleagues are encouraged to sign up at Carpool.ca.

Q. What is your portfolio’s biggest reward?

I am so thankful for the immense opportunities to help facilitate the commute of our employees, patients and visitors to/from home and between sites in safe, economical and efficient ways.

My reward comes from every staff member who incorporates healthy, active and cleaner transportation into their life. The feedback I hear is that this change in behaviour rewards them physically, mentally, socially and financially.

Find out more.