The launch marks the conclusion of a wonderful project and the beginning of another for Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin and Louis-Martin Rousseau, two professors in the department, who worked with great dedication to create the training option.In Québec, as in many countries, health systems are under increasing pressure to provide quality services to an aging clientele. The increase in operating costs for these systems, and the limited resources of the public organizations that finance them, threaten both the quality and the accessibility of care. "While universities produce knowledge and technology that can considerably improve health systems' efficiency, these techniques are rarely transferred into practice at this time," explains Professor de Marcellis-Warin. "We believe that among the reasons for this is the lack of qualified staff that have both the technical competencies in industrial engineering and operational research and an understanding of health organizations." In launching the new option, Polytechnique aims to train a new generation that can move practices forward and optimize the operations of health systems.

Polytechnique has been developing its expertise in the realm of healthcare for quite some time, aiming to foster innovation in society. On this point, Mr. Guy drew attention to the institution's concerted efforts in recent years: "In terms of training, in 2009 we inaugurated the biomedical engineering program, a first in Canada," he said. "As for research, we now have an Institute of Biomedical Engineering, headed by Professor Pierre Savard, not to mention our various research chairs. The development of such expertise, which has tangible positive outcomes for society, is perfectly aligned with our institution's engineering training and research mission." This new option, which aims to act as a bridge between engineering and health, is intended especially for engineers and professionals who are interested in the area of health systems engineering.

Also worth mention is the valued collaboration of the research partners: Hôpital Sainte-Justine, the Jewish General Hospital, the Montréal Neurological Institute, the Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Laval, RISQ+H*, which is associated with CIRANO**, and the MSSS, which made the new training option possible.

*Acronym for the Réseau de sensibilisation et de partage d'expérience sur la gestion des risques, la sécurité des patients et la qualité des soins/Network for Awareness and Experience-Sharing in Risk Management, Patient Safety and Quality of Care.
**Acronym for Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations/Centre for Interuniversity Research and Analysis on Organizations.

To find out more about the program, please visit: http://www.polymtl.ca/etudes/cs/industriel/option_ingenierieSysSante.php. 

Professors Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin and Louis-Martin Rousseau, creators of the new option.

About Polytechnique Montréal

Founded in 1873, Polytechnique Montréal is one of Canada's leading engineering teaching and research institutions. It is the largest engineering university in Québec for the size of its student body and the scope of its research activities. With over 37,000 graduates, Polytechnique Montréal has graduated 25% of the current members of the l'Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. Polytechnique provides training in 16 engineering specialties, has 241 professors and more than 6,900 students. It has an annual operating budget of over $200 million, including a $72-million research budget.

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Information :

Virginie Ferland
Communications and Recruitment Office
514 340-4711, ext. 2339 or 514 647-9299
virginie.ferland@polymtl.ca