The original group, the First Open Heart Society of B.C. was founded in Victoria in 1973 in the interest of heart patients on Vancouver Island and neighbouring islands.

A Greater Vancouver Branch was formed in January 1986 with a growing membership of persons from all walks of life who happily share a common bond – ‘ a renewed life’ after open-heart surgery.

Our membership includes ‘open hearters’ not only from the Lower Mainland but also from all other parts of B.C. Thus, in order to reach out to people throughout the province, the Pacific Open Heart Association was officially formed September 27th, 1988. We offer a Hospital Visitation Program comprised of a number of teams of members who visit patients during their hospital stay at St. Paul’s, Vancouver General and Royal Columbian Hospital.

As members of the Pacific Open Heart Association, all having ourselves undergone open heart surgery, we would like to explain our association’s mission and goals to you.

We sincerely feel that we can offer positive moral support and encouragement during the sometimes-bewildering period prior to your surgery. Experience shows that both the patient and his/her family benefit from seeing and chatting with a former ‘open hearter’.

If you wish, one of our members would be pleased to assist you in any way possible, both now and when you return to your home. A telephone number is available at the nurses’ station. One of our members will contact you as soon as possible.

PROGRESS

Since March 2, 1986 our Visitation Teams have met with approximately 50 patients a week. The Cardiac Surgeons, Cardiologists and Nursing staffs, at the hospitals we visit consider our Association a credible resource and endorse our program, reporting beneficial results to both the patients and their families.

GOALS

Our goal is to form satellite groups of the Pacific Open Heart Association in various other B.C. centres, so a patient and or his/her family, on returning to their community, will have access to a support group through their recovery and return to normal living

AIMS OF THE PACIFIC OPEN HEART ASSOCIATION

The purposes of the Association are:

To bring together all persons who have had open heart surgery and/or any other cardio vascular procedures
To assist in the encouragement and preparation of patients about to have open heart surgery, and to assist families
To encourage and support patients and their families after surgery
To promote recreational activities, for example, by hosting an annual golf tournament and a team in the Sun Run
When possible, by providing funds, to promote CPR training; to assist purchase of cardiovascular instrumentation by hospitals, or emergency responders like Fire Departments; and to promote cardiovascular research in British Columbia.