Radiology Partners Launches Mammo Enhance Heart™: An AI-Driven Program Advancing Preventive Cardiovascular Health for Women
Radiology Partners (RP), a leading provider of technology-enabled radiology services across the United States, has announced the launch of its latest innovation in women’s healthcare: Mammo Enhance Heart™, an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled clinical program designed to transform preventive care by identifying cardiovascular risks early in women. This novel program leverages routine mammogram screenings to detect breast arterial calcifications (BAC), a clinically significant marker linked to cardiovascular disease, and seamlessly integrates follow-up care through a local network of cardiology specialists. The program is currently available at Desert Radiology, an RP-affiliated practice, with plans for expansion into additional markets over the next two years.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women in the U.S., yet it is often underdiagnosed, partly due to traditional screening methods that focus on men’s health patterns. Recognizing this critical gap, Radiology Partners has developed Mammo Enhance Heart™ to combine advanced AI analysis with a structured care pathway, ensuring that women at risk of heart disease can be identified early and receive timely interventions.
AI-Powered Detection and Risk Stratification
At the core of Mammo Enhance Heart™ is an FDA-cleared AI tool capable of detecting BAC during routine mammogram screenings. BAC represents calcium deposits within the arteries of the breast and has been increasingly recognized as a marker of systemic cardiovascular disease. Research indicates that women with BAC are approximately 51% more likely to develop heart disease or stroke, highlighting the importance of early detection.
The Mammo Enhance Heart™ program does more than simply detect the presence of BAC. It uses an internally developed risk-scoring methodology to stratify patients based on their likely cardiovascular risk. By combining imaging data with AI-driven analytics, the program generates individualized risk profiles, which are then reviewed by expert radiologists to ensure accuracy. These findings allow clinicians to identify high-risk patients before clinical symptoms emerge, enabling proactive monitoring and preventive interventions.
Seamless Integration with Local Cardiology Networks
One of the distinguishing features of Mammo Enhance Heart™ is its integrated care approach. Women identified as having elevated cardiovascular risk are connected with a network of local cardiologists trained in the clinical objectives of the program. This ensures that follow-up is timely, coordinated, and tailored to each patient’s needs. Patients who require further evaluation can undergo comprehensive cardiovascular assessments, while those at lower risk receive ongoing monitoring integrated into their annual mammogram appointments.
The program also emphasizes longitudinal tracking, allowing providers to monitor changes in BAC over time. By incorporating these longitudinal data points, Mammo Enhance Heart™ helps patients and providers understand evolving risk factors, track the effectiveness of lifestyle or therapeutic interventions, and adjust care plans accordingly. This approach reduces the need for additional imaging exams, minimizing patient exposure to radiation while maximizing the utility of routine mammograms.
Enhancing Preventive Health and Patient Empowerment
According to Dr. Arthy Saravanan, Breast Radiologist and Associate Chief Medical Officer for Radiology Partners, “Mammo Enhance Heart™ is a revolutionary program for women’s healthcare, improving detection, incorporating risk assessment, and empowering women to take control of their health. This program represents a significant step forward not only in preventive healthcare but also in the overall patient experience.”
By linking routine mammograms with cardiovascular risk assessment, the program provides women with actionable insights into their long-term health. Patients receive their exam results, BAC status, and individualized risk scores directly, along with clear follow-up recommendations. This transparency fosters informed decision-making and encourages women to engage more actively with their healthcare providers.
Furthermore, by integrating cardiology consultation into the program, Mammo Enhance Heart™ ensures that women receive personalized care pathways rather than generic follow-up advice. Providers can tailor interventions based on each patient’s risk profile, while patients gain clarity on steps to mitigate cardiovascular risk, including lifestyle modifications, medical therapy, or specialized cardiology consultations.
Continuous Improvement Through Data
Another hallmark of Mammo Enhance Heart™ is its commitment to continuous learning and improvement. The program collects follow-up data from cardiology consultations and additional assessments, which feed back into the AI-driven risk prediction model. This iterative process allows Radiology Partners to refine its algorithms, improve risk stratification accuracy, and enhance clinical protocols over time.
By leveraging real-world data, Mammo Enhance Heart™ is positioned not only as a diagnostic tool but also as a dynamic platform for preventive health innovation, ensuring that both patients and providers benefit from the latest evidence-based insights in cardiovascular care.
Streamlining Care Without Additional Burden
One of the key advantages of the program is its efficiency and convenience. Women undergoing routine mammograms do not need to schedule separate appointments or undergo additional imaging studies. BAC detection is performed as part of the standard mammography process, allowing for a seamless patient experience.
Dr. Saravanan emphasizes this point, stating, “Integrating this screening into routine mammogram appointments allows providers to monitor changes over time without additional exams. With this continuous evaluation, patients are more in tune with their risk factors and overall health, making this a powerful program for managing long-term health.”
This integration not only enhances preventive care but also reduces healthcare costs by avoiding unnecessary procedures while prioritizing high-risk patients for targeted intervention.
Initial Launch and Future Expansion
Currently, Mammo Enhance Heart™ is live at Desert Radiology, providing patients in the region with immediate access to this innovative program. Radiology Partners plans to expand the program to additional markets throughout 2025 and 2026, with the goal of making AI-enabled cardiovascular risk assessment a standard component of women’s preventive care nationwide.
The expansion strategy includes onboarding additional RP-affiliated radiology practices, training cardiologists within local networks, and refining AI algorithms based on cumulative patient data. As the program scales, Radiology Partners anticipates that thousands of women across the U.S. will benefit from early cardiovascular risk detection and coordinated care, addressing a longstanding gap in women’s health services.
A Transformative Step for Women’s Health
Mammo Enhance Heart™ represents a new paradigm in preventive healthcare, bridging the gap between radiology and cardiology while leveraging the power of AI to enhance clinical decision-making. By identifying women at risk of cardiovascular disease earlier and ensuring timely follow-up, the program not only saves lives but also improves the overall patient experience by providing actionable health insights during routine screenings.
As the program continues to expand, it is poised to become a model for AI-driven preventive care in other clinical domains. Radiology Partners’ innovative approach demonstrates the potential of technology-enabled radiology to extend beyond diagnostic imaging, fostering a more proactive, patient-centered healthcare system.
