A prevention division at the MHI

The prevention of cardiovascular disease is as important a part in the mission of the Montreal Heart Institute as highly specialized care, research, teaching and the evaluation of new technologies.

The Institute completed a crucial step in spring 2004 by creating a prevention division. The mandate of this new branch is to plan major directions in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases at the Institute and manage the operations of the MHI's Centre for Preventive Medicine and Physical Activity (ÉPIC Centre).

The Institute intends to fully assume its responsibilities and leadership in preventing cardiovascular disease with the community, in cooperation with the public health branch of the Agence de développement de réseaux locaux de services de santé et de services sociaux de Montréal. This decision is part of a move toward prevention that has also been undertaken by several major cardiology centres in the United States.

Convinced that prevention must have an important place in Québec's and Canada's healthcare systems, the Institute has implemented several projects in the field of cardiovascular prevention and intends to raise this important question with governments and a variety of partners.