New “Mammo with Heart” screening provides breast and heart health insights during a routine mammogram
Birmingham OB/Gyn, in partnership with Onsite Women’s Health, is proud to announce the launch of Mammo with Heart, an innovative screening program that uses artificial intelligence to identify breast arterial calcifications (BAC) during routine mammography. The program provides women and their healthcare providers with additional insight into cardiovascular risk without added imaging, radiation, or appointments.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among women throughout the communities Birmingham OB/Gyn serves. According to the Alabama Public Health Community Health Profiles 2023, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair, Walker, and Tuscaloosa Counties, as well as statewide. Female heart disease mortality rates range from 152.0 deaths per 100,000 women in Tuscaloosa County to 503.4 deaths per 100,000 women in Walker County.
While women have long understood the importance of mammograms for detecting breast cancer, many are surprised to learn that heart disease remains significantly more likely to take their lives.
“Women trust their OB/Gyn for preventive care throughout their lives,” said Ashley Przybysz, M.D., Birmingham OB/Gyn. “This program allows us to provide even more value from a screening test women are already receiving. By identifying potential cardiovascular risk earlier, we can help patients have important conversations with their healthcare providers before serious cardiovascular disease develops.”
Mammo with Heart utilizes FDA-cleared CureMetrix® cmAngio® technology to analyze routine mammography images for the presence of breast arterial calcifications. Research has shown that these calcifications may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and can serve as an important opportunity for earlier risk assessment and prevention.
By combining advanced AI technology with comprehensive 3D mammography, Birmingham OB/Gyn is able to provide what many women view as a “two-in-one” screening experience—offering information about both breast health and cardiovascular health from a single exam.
Among women undergoing screening mammograms, breast arterial calcifications are present in approximately 12% to 42.5% of cases. Yet historically, many of these findings have not been routinely reported. Growing evidence suggests that both patients and physicians want access to this information to support more informed cardiovascular risk assessment and preventive care discussions.
As part of this initiative, Birmingham OB/Gyn is working to develop a coordinated cardiovascular care pathway with Alabama Cardiovascular Group (ACG), an affiliate of Grandview Health, to help ensure that women identified as having elevated cardiovascular risk have access to timely specialty evaluation and preventive care when appropriate.
“For many women, their OB/Gyn is the healthcare provider they see most consistently,” said David Carmichael, CEO of Birmingham OB/Gyn. “This program gives us an opportunity to identify cardiovascular risk earlier and connect patients with appropriate preventive care before heart disease develops. We believe this initiative represents the future of women’s preventive healthcare.”
The launch of Mammo with Heart builds upon Birmingham OB/Gyn’s continued investment in advanced women’s imaging services, including 3D mammography and Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) for women with dense breast tissue. Together, these technologies provide women with more comprehensive information about their health from a single point of care.
Birmingham OB/Gyn performs more than 8,400 screening mammograms annually and delivered babies for families residing in 28 Alabama counties during the past year, reflecting the practice’s growing role as a regional leader in women’s healthcare.
Mammo with Heart is now available to patients undergoing screening mammography at Birmingham OB/Gyn.
For more information, visit https://www.birminghamobgyn.com or call 205-933-8334.
About Birmingham OB/Gyn
Birmingham OB/Gyn is one of Alabama’s leading women’s healthcare practices, providing comprehensive obstetrical, gynecologic, breast imaging, preventive health, hormone therapy, and specialty services to women throughout Central Alabama. With offices in Birmingham, Hoover, and Trussville, the practice cares for patients from across the region and delivered babies for families residing in 28 Alabama counties during the past year. Birmingham OB/Gyn is committed to advancing women’s health through innovation, prevention, and coordinated care across every stage of life.
About Onsite Women’s Health
In partnership with forward-thinking providers across the country, Onsite Women’s Health offers comprehensive in-office breast health and imaging services anchored by advanced 3D screening mammography and artificial intelligence technologies. Onsite is committed to improving access to breast imaging, increasing screening compliance, and supporting earlier detection for women nationwide.