In the healthcare and technological innovation industries, “Mitacs partners with hospitals, SMEs, and NFPs dedicated to enhancing healthcare practices, as well as incubators, each contributing their unique expertise in areas like sustainable development, artificial intelligence, and medical sciences. Some hospitals have their own incubators or environments where projects can be carried out,” explains Maude Vaillancourt-Audet, Senior Consultant, Business Development at Mitacs. She also mentioned in passing that the OROT connected health incubator launched by the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal and the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) is hoping to innovate in response to the changing demographics and medical needs of healthcare users. “Reinforcing good practices is important, so we sometimes collaborate with NFPs involved in initiatives that aim to inspire healthier behaviours among the community, such as VITAM – Centre de recherche en santé durable du Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de la Capitale-Nationale, which is affiliated with Université Laval.”
Over the past three years at Mitacs, Maude Vaillancourt-Audet has been instrumental in spearheading collaborative projects with hospitals, not-for-profit organizations, and companies involved in the healthcare industry. “They can also be projects that stem from the needs of the community and require some level of oversight from healthcare facilities, or they could be internal solutions that receive funding through Mitacs. Think of the long lists of patients waiting for surgery. This could involve working with an in-house professor to create an algorithm to optimize scheduling and operations to improve access to healthcare or teaming up with a company that develops this type of application, which could help transform the healthcare industry.”
“For example, digital health innovations will make it possible to bridge the gap caused by resource shortages and geographical distance, helping improve healthcare accessibility for individuals in remote areas.”
– Maude Vaillancourt-Audet, Senior Consultant, Business Development at Mitacs
She calls to mind the different types of needs that come up in digital health innovation projects: “There are those in hospitals and facilities offering healthcare services, and those in communities, some of which are remote or marginalized. This is obviously interdependent. For example, digital health innovations will make it possible to bridge the gap caused by resource shortages and geographical distance, helping improve healthcare accessibility for individuals in remote areas. This is just one of the benefits of digital health innovations. Think AI, virtual reality, and more. There are many plans for virtual reality treatments and therapies to improve patient care. Some of the studies and pilot projects that Mitacs is involved in respond directly to the needs of the community.”
In 2017, the grouping of the Organismes de bassins versants de Chaudière-Appalaches, in collaboration with INRS-ETE and Université Laval, organized three training courses. These courses aimed to empower the community with knowledge about groundwater in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, targeting the territories of the nine MRCs. Mitacs funded student scholarships, which made these courses possible. “We collaborated with the CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches to help the local community learn how to manage their well and provide them with the resources they needed to take ownership of it,” explains Maude Vaillancourt-Audet, illustrating the diverse fields and sectors involved in digital health projects.
Expertise required
But what kind of experienced and skilled individuals are required for these types of projects? “Many of them are students who will work in computer science or AI, to help develop applications. However, we need more than just skilled individuals to develop technology products. We also need experts in compliance and ethics to create policies and protocols. Before we discuss dashboards and data management, we must address these issues, meaning how we process, manage, and store data. It takes experts to think about it and students in programming, AI, and ethics to enable establishments to turn their digital health innovation projects into reality and optimize their care offering,” emphasizes the senior consultant.
“Currently, we have a card issued by each hospital we visit. As the system becomes more digitized, it will be much easier for healthcare staff to access key information (…) Mitacs plays a key role in optimizing operating plans, ensuring ethical compliance, and anonymizing data. Mitacs serves as a bridge between innovative start-ups and the testing community.”
– Maude Vaillancourt-Audet, Senior Consultant, Business Development at Mitacs
Although data management policies are still under development in Quebec, the Act respecting health and social services information has already come into effect as of July 1. This act allows for the creation of a digital health record that follows the patient’s journey. It aims to save the patient the hassle of having to repeat their medical history to every professional they consult by tracking medical histories, consultation records, and other health data throughout the patient’s care journey. “Currently, we have a card issued by each hospital we visit. As the system becomes more digitized, it will be much easier for healthcare staff to access key information,” notes Ms. Vaillancourt-Audet, who confirms Mitacs’s involvement in developing policies and codes of ethics to support this digitization. “When it comes to accessibility, depersonalization, and confidentiality, Mitacs leverages dedicated resources and talent. Although Mitacs is not responsible for creating the dashboard, it plays a key role in refining operational strategies, ensuring ethical compliance, and anonymizing data. Mitacs acts as a connector between innovative start-ups and the testing community. From there, study and pilot projects can be carried out. We’re talking about projects that cater directly to the needs of the community, if not public health projects.”
Significant incentives for interns
“When you’re studying for a master’s or doctorate, you’re often very involved with the university and its research centre. Our focus is primarily within academia, leaving little room for external engagement,” points out the Mitacs expert. Participating in internship programs would therefore be a good way for students to develop their interdisciplinary skills and gain practical expertise that can be applied in real-life scenarios. “This hands-on experience gives students a competitive edge in the job market even before they complete their studies. It also enables them to seek funding and develop their network outside of academia. Students also have access to free training opportunities through Mitacs to help them gain valuable skills in project development and management, helping enhance their competitive edge in the job market,” adds Maude Vaillancourt-Audet.
