The DCVA Project Group "Eerder Beter" has secured vital funding to enhance preoperative care for heart surgery patients. These patients often face risk factors like smoking and lack of exercise, which can contribute to complications during and after surgery. Currently, these risk factors are addressed only after surgery, during the cardiac rehabilitation phase.

Research highlights that implementing lifestyle interventions before surgery improves patient outcomes. The "Eerder Beter" initiative is dedicated to providing cardiac rehabilitation and lifestyle interventions to vulnerable patients even before their surgery. By utilizing the waiting period as an active preparation phase, patients can enter surgery in better physical condition, thus improving their recovery prospects.

The initiative has recently received two key sources of funding:

• Coalitie Leefstijl in de Zorg is supporting the creation of a blueprint for preoperative care pathways, optimizing the integration of lifestyle interventions based on the handout teachable moments.
• The DCVA-WCN pitch awarded the Project Group second place, granting funding for the development of a roadmap for implementing cardiac rehabilitation before planned surgeries.

This support is a major milestone in advancing cardiac care and will help shape the future of patient outcomes. The DCVA Project Group looks forward to collaborating with multiple partners to continue the development of this innovative approach. More updates on the projects coming soon!