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AortiCare

Patient pathways for
aortic stenosis care

AortiCare is an innovative educational programme co-organised by ESC and ACNAP, designed to support general cardiologists, interventionalists and nurses in the timely diagnosis, referral, and management of patients with aortic stenosis, a condition affecting over 12% of Europeans over 75.

AortiCare addresses key challenges healthcare professionals face in the care of patients with aortic stenosis. By providing you with cutting-edge knowledge and resources, AortiCare aims to improve the care pathway and patient outcomes.

How will AortiCare enhance clinical practice?

  • Increase knowledge and confidence in diagnosing and referring patients with aortic stenosis.
  • Provide insight into the vital role of Valve Clinic Coordinators (VCCs) and how nurses can progress their careers to attain these key positions.
  • Advocate the value of a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to aortic stenosis care that brings faster, more efficient, and patient-centered solutions.

AortiCare Resources

Webinars

Fast Facts

eLearning Course

Toolkit

 

Trending - Latest AortiCare News

Enhanced education to improve aortic stenosis patient pathways: the AortiCare programme: Dr. Fabien Praz (University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland), Dr. Bettina Hoejberg Kirk (Rigshospitalet - Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark), AortiCare Organising Committee and Taskforce

The article highlights persistent underdiagnosis and undertreatment of severe aortic stenosis despite effective therapies. The AortiCare programme, an ESC and ACNAP initiative, aims to improve patient outcomes by enhancing education, streamlining diagnosis and referral, and standardising care pathways across Europe.

Read now

Webinars

Concept,Of,Online,Education.,Man,Use,Online,Education,Training,AndLive CME-accredited webinars, open to everyone, where participants can interact with the faculty. Following the live event, all webinars will be available on demand with English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish subtitles.

ESC Webinars 

EAPCI Webinars

Fast facts

fast-facts-aorticare.jpgAortiCare is also about awareness raising, so here are some fast facts – please share in your institution.

  • Aortic Stenosis is a growing concern – especially in those over 75 years of age
  • Delayed treatment and complex co-morbidities significantly increase mortality
  • Low detection rates, lack of symptom awareness, and long referral processes can delay diagnosis and treatment for months.
  • Early intervention, particularly through valve replacement, is critical to improving patient survival.
  • VCCs in specialised heart valve teams streamline the patient care pathway to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.  
  • VCCs support a standardised care approach that ensures every patient receives timely and effective treatment.
  • Timely identification, efficient referral processes, and seamless coordination between healthcare providers is the key to improving patient care and outcomes.

eLearning Course

This eLearning journey demonstrates how to diagnose aortic stenosis to build confidence among primary care physicians, nurses and allied professionals. Learn at your own pace and earn CME credits with our eLearning course designed to fit your schedule.

The course covers:

  • Aetiology & pathophysiology of aortic stenosis
  • Clinical presentation and initial assessments and diagnostics
  • Management and follow-up
  • Referral pathways and scope of roles
  • Follow-up care post-intervention

See more details

Toolkit - Coming soon!

Additional resources will soon be available, bundled in a toolkit, to support general cardiologists in the clinic and raise awareness amongst nurses and allied professionals (NAPs):

  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Articles

 

What we want to achieve through AortiCare

  • Improve the identification of aortic stenosis through awareness-raising, empowerment, and education of healthcare professionals.
  • Reduce delays in referral by addressing gaps between pre-hospital care and specialist treatment.
  • Raise awareness of the crucial role played by Valve Clinic Coordinators (VCCs) in enhancing patient pathways and improving outcomes.
  • Promote peer-to-peer learning among healthcare professionals to share best practices and encourage the adoption of roles like the VCC.

Watch Susanna Price outline what you can get out of AortiCare

 

 

Thank you to our volunteers for their expertise

Organising Committee

Task Force Members

 

Inigo Anduaga Elorza

In my opinion, AortiCare is a very important initiative because, through webinars and a training course, it aims to show the importance of aortic stenosis, propose circuits to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment, with the objective of improving outcomes in this pathology. I also find it very interesting to mention that it is composed of expert cardiologists in valvulopathies, young cardiologists, and patients, which provides a broad and multidisciplinary perspective on the problem and its potential improvements

See profile

Mary Kouremeti

Aortic stenosis is the most prevalent valvular heart disease in Europe. With the aging population and demographic shifts, the prevalence of aortic stenosis, is expected to increase significantly in the future. AortiCare connects general cardiology practice with specialised care by providing knowledge for the early detection of potential aortic stenosis. It offers an opportunity for general cardiologists and cardiology nurses to learn from specialists and ensure that our patients receive prompt referrals. For patients, it means a more effective, and personalised treatment experience, ultimately improving their quality of life and outcomes.

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Bettina Hoejberg Kirk

AortiCare may significantly enhance multidisciplinary practices and improve access to care by:
- Efficiently managing referrals, diagnostics, assessment pathways and waitlists,
- Strengthening patient education and promoting shared decision-making, and
- Providing robust programme leadership.
This initiative illustrates that the close collaboration between medicine and nursing is essential – for patients, the Heart Team and hospitals.

See profile

Nicolas Buttinger

Having worked as a cardiology registrar for the past 6 years, at hospitals offering aortic valve interventions, I have been able to see the positive difference the prompt diagnosis and referral of patients with aortic stenosis can make and also the consequences of any delay. I now have the privilege of working on the AortiCare project, which will continue to progress the understanding of aortic stenosis for the benefit of our patients. 

See more

This programme is supported by Edwards Lifesciences in the form of unrestricted financial support.
The scientific programme has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

Edwards Lifesciences

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