The Netherlands is grappling with growing health problems that are often linked to lifestyle choices. We spend billions on treating illnesses, but relatively little on prevention. What if we shifted this balance? That is precisely what Managing Director Rogier Verstralen aims to achieve with Beter Verwijs: an innovative approach that makes lifestyle support accessible to both healthcare providers and patients.
Rogier began his career as a financial expert, but soon realised that his passion lay in improving health and quality of life. In his role as a business controller at Radboudumc, he saw opportunities to do more in the area of prevention. “We often try to manage illnesses, but the underlying causes remain unaddressed,” explains Rogier.
This insight formed the basis for Radboudumc’s national ‘Beter Gezond’ programme, in which he works alongside Prof. Dr Bart Kiemeney and other key figures in the healthcare sector on training and a referral platform. “Healthcare providers are open to addressing lifestyle factors, but are often held back by a lack of time, a lack of specialist knowledge or access to the right tools,” explains Rogier. The platform that emerged from this grew from within Radboudumc into a success and led to the establishment of Beter Verwijs, a company with a social mission.
Appropriate lifestyle interventions
Beter Verwijs is a SaaS platform that helps healthcare providers easily refer patients to suitable lifestyle interventions, such as programmes to help them give up smoking, sleep therapy or nutritional support. The platform’s strength lies in its range of services and accessibility. Rogier: “We have a catalogue of locally, regionally and nationally available interventions in the paramedical and social sectors, so that patients can easily access the lifestyle support they need. Always close to home or online.”
In addition to lifestyle-focused interventions, the platform also offers social support. “You cannot build a sustainable healthy lifestyle if, for example, you are stressed by financial worries or if you lack a social safety net,” emphasises Rogier. This broad approach is what makes Beter Verwijs unique: it connects both the medical and social sectors.
The current state of affairs
Since this summer, Beter Verwijs has been an independent company. The platform is now used by 11 hospitals, with ambitious plans to expand that number to 42. In collaboration with Radboudumc, Maastricht UMC+, the Association of Doctors and Lifestyle, The Simulation Crew and the AFAS Foundation, training programmes are being developed for healthcare professionals, including e-learning courses and innovative VR training. These training programmes support the effective integration of lifestyle care into daily practice.
The company is in the midst of a transition. The team is also working on recruiting software developers and further refining the company’s identity. “We are growing rapidly to achieve the impact we aim for, and that brings its own challenges. But we tackle everything with enthusiasm,” says Rogier.
A look to the future
Beter Verwijs’ ambition extends beyond hospitals and GP practices. Rogier sees opportunities with employers, in education and even internationally. “We want to normalise a healthy lifestyle, including in the workplace and in schools. That starts by making it an integral part of the conversations we have with one another.”
“I am convinced that you always deserve the best possible care,” emphasises Rogier. “I believe that Beter Verwijs will become a key platform that is deployed at the right moment to help people adopt a healthier lifestyle. I also believe that this will enable intervention programmes to share information more quickly with one another. For example, if you’re referred to the ‘stop smoking’ programme, but they realise there that diet also plays a role, it would be great if you could be referred straight away to a dietitian.” In cases involving complex issues, the GP naturally plays a key role in such referrals. However, GP services do not have the capacity to see the more than 10 million Dutch people who actually need to make changes to their lifestyle. A direct referral via a platform such as Beter Verwijs offers a solution to this.
Rogier believes that Beter Verwijs will become a sort of quality mark for interventions, ensuring that healthcare providers and patients are assured of quality. Through partnerships with organisations such as the RIVM and by analysing user data, the platform – and consequently the support it provides to patients – is becoming increasingly effective.
Several hands make light work
Rogier emphasises how valuable the support from partners such as Briskr is. “Through Briskr, we gained access to the Business Angel Network Nijmegen (BANN). That gave us the opportunity to refine our pitch and to get in touch with investors who understand what we want to achieve.”
Briskr helped Beter Verwijs not only with funding opportunities, but also with expertise and networking. “They spoke our language, and helped us to learn the language of investors too. I’ve now spoken to many socially-minded business angels, and that’s been a huge help. They sometimes have just that fresh perspective on our positioning or how to bring something to market.”
Working together towards a healthier Netherlands
Beter Verwijs is taking an important step towards promoting lifestyle care in the Netherlands. The platform offers hope for a future in which prevention is no longer an afterthought, but an integral part of healthcare and beyond.
“It’s not just about treating illnesses, but about genuinely helping people to live healthier lives,” concludes Rogier. “It’s never too late to change, and with Beter Verwijs we want to make that change easier and more accessible for everyone.”
