8 Heart Health Facts Moms-to-be Should Know

As healthcare evolves, hospital systems prioritize not only the level of care they provide, but also how well they respond to the needs of the people they serve.

This is true with programs like Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Quality-In-Sights: Hospital Incentive Program (Q-HIP), which scores organizations’ health equity efforts.

When we invest in equitable care, our patients receive better treatment, our team members feel supported and we have additional resources that we can use to improve care.

Why do programs rewarding health equity matter?

Programs like Q-HIP recognize healthcare organizations for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Rather than focusing on how many patients are seen, these models score performance across quality, safety, outcomes and experience.

Programs like Q-HIP align with Wellstar's mission to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve.

Health equity’s role in Anthem’s Q-HIP program

Q-HIP has recognized Wellstar with a reimbursement bonus point for health equity, acknowledging our efforts to reach underserved patients and tailor our care to the communities and people we serve.

“Programs like Q-HIP make it clear that equity work isn’t separate from performance—it’s part of how we deliver quality and earn the resources we reinvest back into patient care,” said Mindy St. George, Wellstar assistant vice president of managed care.

The Q-HIP health equity assessment evaluates whether health systems:

• Commit to advance health equity
• Collect and analyze demographic and social needs data
• Look at quality measures to identify disparities
• Work to improve disparities and gaps in care
• Involve leadership in equity efforts

To provide high-quality care, you need to address inequities.

Wellstar’s approach: Equity as responsiveness

At Wellstar, health equity is part of everything we do. Through Wellstar Community Health and Center for Health Equity, equity is embedded into how we design care, improve quality, engage leadership across the system and analyze data.

We focus on understanding who we serve, identifying barriers to care and continuously improving how services are delivered.

“Health equity is not an add-on to our work—it’s how we deliver better care,” said Elise Lockamy-Kassim, Wellstar assistant vice president of community health and Center for Health Equity. “When healthcare systems are responsive to people’s needs, outcomes improve, care becomes more efficient and everyone benefits.”

Why equity investments benefit everyone

When patients can access care more easily and feel like their clinicians care about them, they’re more likely to get the preventative care they need. This helps them manage chronic conditions like diabetes, stay ahead of disease and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.

Equity-driven improvements also support Wellstar team members by improving workflows and enabling us to invest resources in our people.

“When we focus on health equity, we’re strengthening the entire system,” said Dr. Earl Stewart, Wellstar medical director of health equity. “Better data and better responsiveness lead to better care—for every patient, every time.”

Why continued investment matters

Programs like Q-HIP make it clear: Equity performance is quality performance and quality performance is rewarded.

For Wellstar, continued investment in health equity means:

• Stronger performance in programs like Q-HIP
• Resources to reinvest in team members and care
• Better outcomes for patients across all communities
• A healthcare system that is responsive, resilient and sustainable

Learn more about health equity at Wellstar.

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women. However, when found in its earliest stages, breast cancer can be stopped from spreading, is more treatable and nearly 100% curable. Screening is the best way to find breast cancer early. Let’s talk about mammograms as well as the right way to perform a self breast exam.

Mammograms

When should I start getting mammograms?

Unless you have a new breast problem or need to start screenings earlier because of risk, most guidelines recommend starting screening mammography at age 40.
How often should I get a mammogram?

Guidelines differ somewhat but are consistent that if you are of average risk, you should have them at least every other year.  If you are at increased risk, including having dense breast tissue or a family history of breast cancer,  it is recommended that you get an annual mammography screening and possibly enhanced screenings with MRI, ultrasound or contrast enhanced mammography.

Is getting a mammogram dangerous to my health?

While there is a small radiation exposure with every mammogram, the benefit of early detection of small, curable cancers almost always outweighs that risk of exposure.

Does it hurt to get a mammogram?

Some women do find mammograms uncomfortable.  This is more common when having imaging just before your menstrual period when breast tissue can be swollen and more sensitive.  If you do have extra sensitivity, scheduling the exam after your cycle starts or taking an over-the-counter NSAID pain reliever* a few hours before the exam may minimize the discomfort.  Because positioning of the breast and taking each mammogram image is typically less than 30 seconds, the extent of discomfort during the exam is short-lived.

*NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen sodium (Aleve) and aspirin.

Breast self-exam options

What is the correct technique for a breast self-exam?

Any pattern for feeling all of your breast tissue is acceptable. The goal is to make sure you are feeling with varying pressure from your collar bone to cleavage, to the bottom of the breast out to past where your breast meets your chest wall, including your armpit.

How often should I do a breast self-exam?

Self-exams should not be done too often because it can make it difficult to tell if a lump is evolving over time. Think of how hard it is to tell if your appearance changes gradually as you get older because you see yourself every day, compared to more easily seeing changes in someone’s appearance after not seeing them for a long time. Typically, once a month is enough.

Is there a best time to do a breast self-exam?

 It is important to do your breast self-exam in approximately the same time in your cycle rather than a specific interval—especially since not all menstrual cycles are exactly 28 days apart.  Doing the exam at the same place in your cycle will give you consistency in how the tissue should feel in terms of lumpiness, texture and density. 
I encourage my patients to do their exam the day after their cycle starts as a consistent point in their hormonal cycle fluctuations.

What am I actually looking for during a breast self-exam?

Your breast self-exam should be a tool to familiarize yourself with the general “normal texture” of the tissue in each of your breasts so if you detect something that is different, you will be able to identify it as new or changed. 

Can a breast self-exam replace a mammogram?

Self-breast exams cannot replace mammograms because mammograms can detect subtle changes like densities or calcifications that are too small to feel. The goal with screening mammograms is to detect breast cancer before you can feel it because early detection leads to better overall outcomes.
Learn more about breast cancer screening and treatment at Wellstar. 

ATLANTA – Oct. 1, 2026 – Atlanta City FC has selected Wellstar Health System, a nationally-ranked and locally recognized healthcare provider based in Georgia, as the official healthcare provider of the club.

Through this multi-year partnership, Wellstar and Atlanta City FC will ensure the club’s athletes receive a high level of care on and off the pitch, while developing community and philanthropic efforts focused on the health and wellbeing of all women and female athletes.

Partnerships are developed through shared values, common goals and an aligned vision for the future,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment President Tim Zulawski. “As an Atlanta-based healthcare provider with a shared commitment to women’s health and delivering best-in-class care for female athletes, Wellstar is a perfect partner for Atlanta City FC. We’re proud to have Wellstar as our Official Healthcare Provider and look forward to working together to make a positive impact in our community as we continue to lay the foundation of our NWSL club.” For Wellstar, the partnership creates new opportunities to engage the community in their health and wellness.

By combining Wellstar's expertise in women's health, sports medicine, orthopedics, rehabilitation, primary care, and specialty care with the visibility and community reach of Atlanta’s new National Women’s Soccer League franchise, we can engage more people where they live, work, and gather and connect them with the care they need,” said Wellstar President and CEO Ketul J. Patel.  “The team’s decision to choose Wellstar reflects the strength of our physicians, clinicians, team members, and the high-quality care we provide across Georgia every day. “

The partnership also aligns with Wellstar’s focus and expertise in women’s health, providing a full range of services from preventive and reproductive care to maternity, high-risk pregnancy and advanced orthopedic, cardiovascular and cancer services with one of the Southeast’s largest physician networks. Wellstar also is investing in innovative women’s health programs, including remote pregnancy monitoring and personalized breast cancer risk assessment, to ensure more women have access to quality and trusted care.

Women’s health is about recognizing that women have unique healthcare needs at every stage of life,” said Paula Greaves, MD, Chief of Women’s Health for Wellstar Health System. “By partnering with Atlanta City FC, we have an opportunity to bring together our expertise across women’s health, sports medicine and specialty care to support these athletes as whole people, not simply as competitors. This partnership also provides us with opportunities to engage with and support women of every age and background as we rally behind our new hometown NWSL team, on and off the pitch.”

As Atlanta City FC continues building its club and community presence ahead of its inaugural season, Wellstar will play an integral role in supporting the health and wellbeing of players and the broader community through a shared commitment to excellence, community impact and service. Together, the organizations will develop opportunities to expand access to women’s health resources, promote healthy lifestyles and create meaningful community impact.

Learn more about Atlanta City FC