Allina Health Brings Advanced Cardiac MRI to Hastings Regina Hospital
New heart imaging technology expands access to expert cardiovascular care in the southeast Twin Cities Metro
United Hospital – Hastings Regina imaging care team members from left to right are Kristina (Kristi) Juenke, Nicole (Nikki) Howard, and Ian Steivang.
HASTINGS, MINNESOTA – Allina Health announced on Thursday that patients in Hastings and the surrounding southeast Twin Cities metro communities now have access to advanced cardiac MRI technology at United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus. This development brings world-class cardiovascular care closer to home.
This addition marks a major step in Minnesota's heart disease diagnosis and treatment, as Allina Health continues to expand its cardiovascular services beyond large metro hospitals.
What is Cardiac MRI and Why It Matters
Traditional tests, such as stress tests, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and Holter monitors, remain critical first steps in detecting heart problems. However, for many patients, a cardiac MRI in Hastings now provides a more comprehensive and detailed evaluation. Cardiac MRI offers high-resolution, non-invasive images of the heart’s structure, muscle, valves, and aorta. This makes it one of the most comprehensive cardiovascular tests available for detecting conditions such as heart failure, valve disease, or cardiomyopathy.
According to the 2025 American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report, cardiovascular disease accounted for 941,652 U.S. deaths in 2022. Heart disease has remained the nation’s leading cause of death for over 100 years, according to a previous report from 2024.
These startling statistics serve as a reminder that access to advanced technology is a crucial component in managing cardiovascular disease.
“We’re very excited to now have cardiac MRI technology at United Hospital – Hastings Regina as it offers several practical advantages over traditional imaging methods," said Renee French, Manager of Diagnostic Imaging at United Hospital – Hastings Regina. "It is non-invasive, and it allows providers to plan more precise treatments for their patients.”
Local Heart Care Closer to Home
For years, advanced cardiac imaging was limited to large hospitals in the Twin Cities. Now, Hastings-area patients no longer have to travel far for heart imaging tests or specialized care.
Dr. João Cavalcante, Head of Cardiac Imaging and Senior Cardiologist at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute, called the expansion “a gamechanger.”
"The cardiac MRI results provide important diagnostic and prognostic information about a patient’s heart, allowing providers to offer tailored guidance for the next steps in their care, whether that’s a medical intervention, different medications, lifestyle changes or a combination of these." He added, "This technology is a gamechanger and one of the ways we’re helping improve outcomes for patients suffering from heart disease – a disease that’s unnecessarily claiming far too many lives in our country."
Pictured: Dr. João Cavalcante, Head of Cardiac Imaging and Senior Cardiologist at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute.
Part of Allina Health’s Growing Cardiac Imaging Network
Allina Health has more than doubled its advanced imaging capacity in the last five years. The Hastings Regina Campus joins seven other Minnesota hospitals already offering advanced cardiac MRI services:
Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis)
Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus (Fridley)
Buffalo Hospital (Buffalo)
Cambridge Medical Center (Cambridge)
Mercy Hospital (Coon Rapids)
Ridgeview Two Twelve Medical Center (Chaska)
United Hospital – St. Paul (St. Paul)
Jill Ostrem, President of United Hospital – Hastings Regina, stated that the expansion ensures patients can receive the same level of advanced testing in Hastings as they would in larger metropolitan hospitals.
"In the past, advanced cardiac MRIs were limited to large metro hospitals or specialty centers. So we’re grateful our regional locations are receiving this expanded technology as it ensures our highly-skilled providers have access to the latest technology to help their patients, and patients can benefit from seamless access to tests and treatments in one place while staying close to work or home," said Jill Ostrem, President, United Hospital – Hastings Regina.
Learn More About Cardiac Imaging in Hastings
To schedule a cardiac MRI in Hastings or learn more about other advanced diagnostic imaging services, contact United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus at 651-404-1000 or visit allinahealth.org/regina-hospital.
More About Allina Health
Allina Health is a nonprofit health care system that is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families, and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina Health cares for their patients from beginning to end of life through a network of 90+ clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 16 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical services and transportation.
To learn more about Allina Health, you can go to their website, allinahealth.org , and follow them on Facebook, X , Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Written by: Will Wight
Images Provided by Allina Health
