Wellstar Names Kem Mullins Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

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.

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

MARIETTA and TOCCOA, Ga. (September 2, 2026) — Wellstar Health System and Stephens County Hospital announced today that they have reached an agreement for Stephens County Hospital and related entities to become part of Wellstar Health System. The transaction is expected to be completed toward the end of 2026, pending the conclusion of regulatory approvals.

The planned transaction represents a pivotal moment for the two trusted and vital organizations to come together to strengthen local healthcare and create capacity for additional specialized resources in and around Stephens County.

Stephens County Hospital is a longtime, trusted healthcare provider for Toccoa and surrounding North Georgia communities. The 96-bed acute care hospital has served patients and families throughout the region for nearly 90 years. Following regulatory approval, the hospital will become part of Wellstar.

Wellstar and Stephens County Hospital already share a strong relationship through their tele-stroke program collaboration, giving Stephens County community members access to advanced regional stroke and surgical capabilities.

As part of Wellstar, Stephens County Hospital will gain further access to a broad network of specialists and subspecialists, enhanced telehealth capabilities, advanced clinical expertise and the operational strengths of one of Georgia's leading integrated health systems. Wellstar's scale and resources will support the hospital's long-term vitality while allowing patients to continue receiving high-quality care close to home. "For Stephens County Hospital to serve its community so well for nearly a century requires exceptional talent, deep community trust and an unwavering commitment to its mission," said Wellstar President and CEO Ketul J. Patel. "We look forward to working together to build on the strong foundation already in place while creating new opportunities for the community through expanded access to specialized care, innovative services and the strength of an integrated health system."

The agreement reflects a mutual commitment to providing seamless connectivity across care settings, and greater access to specialized clinical expertise and the resources required to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the community.

"For generations, Stephens County Hospital has been a pillar of this community and a trusted healthcare provider for Toccoa, Stephens County and surrounding North Georgia," said Stephens County Hospital CEO Van Loskoski. "By joining Wellstar, we believe we can build on our strong relationships with patients, families and local physicians, while expanding access to specialized services and investing in the hospital's long-term future, so more people can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time."

In the last few years, Stephens County Hospital has made thoughtful decisions to expand its surgical program, particularly in general surgery and orthopedics, which now features five operating rooms and two full-time orthopedic surgeons. The hospital also has built a tele-stroke program in partnership with Wellstar and has fortified its cardiovascular services.

“All of these improvements have been part of a thoughtful, strategic approach to position Stephens County Hospital to broaden access to specialty care in our communities, which is where we find ourselves today,” Loskoski said.

The planned transaction demonstrates Wellstar's continued momentum in thoughtfully expanding access to high-quality healthcare across Georgia by investing in strong community hospitals and connecting them to one of the Southeast's leading health systems. It builds on Wellstar's strategic growth across the state, enabling clinical expertise, advanced technology and best practices to be shared across communities while improving access to care closer to home.

Nothing changes for patients or the hospitals today. Wellstar and Stephens County Hospital confirmed that patients will continue to have access to the physicians, services and care teams they know and trust. Wellstar intends to take a thoughtful, phased approach to integration that prioritizes continuity for patients, clinicians and team members.

Additional information and updates will be shared with team members, clinicians, patients and the community as they become available.

About Wellstar Health System

Wellstar Health System is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast and a growing destination for care across Georgia and beyond. Guided by its PeopleCare culture, Wellstar is advancing a bold vision to deliver exceptional quality, safety and patient experience while expanding access to world-class medicine. Today, 35,000 team members, one of the region’s largest physician networks and 13 hospitals, serve communities through more than 400 care locations, including cancer centers, rehabilitation facilities, urgent care centers and a digital care network that extends specialty expertise to community and rural hospitals. Wellstar’s nationally recognized programs span cardiology, neuroscience, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics and other specialties, bringing advanced treatment closer to the people who need it.

Through partnerships that include Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia, Wellstar helps educate future clinicians, accelerate discovery and translate research into real-world impact. Recognized as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, Wellstar combines clinical excellence, innovation and collaboration to improve the health and well-being of every person it serves.

About Stephens County Hospital

Stephens County Hospital (SCH) is a 96-bed non-profit hospital which has been serving the North Georgia region since 1937. SCH employs nearly 500 people and boasts a medical staff of nearly 200 physicians and advanced practice providers. Stephens has a proven track record of providing exceptional healthcare having achieved in recent years several designations and awards including “Center of Excellence” status in Orthopedic Surgery from The Joint Commission, as well as being certified by the Department of Public Health as a Remote Treatment Stroke Center and as an Emergency Cardiac Care Center.

Stephens County Hospital provides a wide array of acute care services including Emergency Medicine, Hospitalist Medicine, 24/7 coverage for General and Orthopedic Surgery, as well as operating the Stephens County Emergency Medical Services. SCH also offers access to essential outpatient care with numerous ambulatory care centers providing Primary Care, Urgent Care, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Wound Care, and Physical Therapy services. SCH also offers a large array of other outpatient services including imaging, laboratory services, occupational health services, cardiac rehabilitation, outpatient infusions, and many additional services.

Through data-driven decision-making and a deeply committed workforce, Stephens has been able to expand greatly in recent years, adding and expanding services. A partnership with Wellstar helps to perpetuate that positive momentum.