CAMBRIDGE, Minn. (Dec. 19, 2024) — People who experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or uncomfortable heart beats, typically receive a stress test, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or a Holter monitor as first steps in diagnosing a heart issue. However, to fully diagnose specific heart disease and formulate treatment plans, advanced cardiovascular imaging may be needed.
As part of Allina Health’s commitment to investing in the communities it serves, it recently added advanced cardiac imaging technology at its Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute (AHMHI) at Cambridge Medical Center. Now more patients in the northern Twin Cities metro area can receive advanced cardiac care close to home.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease along with stroke, is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming more lives in 2021 than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined. Additionally, the 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of U.S. and Global Data From the American Heart Association found heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. for 100 years.
These statistics are startling and a reminder that access to advanced technology is a critical piece in managing cardiovascular disease. AHMHI leverages the latest in cardiac imaging and now offers an advanced cardiac imaging test, cardiac magnetic resonance (cardiac MRI) at its Cambridge location.
Cardiac MRI is one of the most comprehensive cardiovascular tests, as it evaluates the size, function, thickness and quality of the heart muscle, identifies valve conditions, measures the aorta size, and quantifies blood flow of the muscle during a stress test.
"The cardiac MRI results provide important diagnostic and prognostic information to the patients, and to providers by guiding the next steps in their care, whether that’s a medical intervention, different medications, lifestyle changes or a combination of these," explained João Cavalcante, MD, head of cardiac imaging and senior cardiologist at AHMHI.
Expanding Access
Allina Health has more than doubled its advanced cardiac imaging capabilities over five years, with more planned in 2025, allowing patients to benefit from seamless access to tests and treatments all in one place. Adding cardiac MRI to Cambridge Medical Center is an important investment and helps ensure people across the Twin Cities area have easy access to highly skilled providers who are using the latest technology. This brings the number of Allina Health sites with cardiac MRI technology to five. Additional locations include Abbott Northwestern and United hospitals as well as both campuses of Mercy Hospital.
"In the past, advanced cardiac imaging tests were limited to large hospitals or specialty centers in urban areas," said Dr. Cavalcante. It’s exciting we’re able to expand our reach and offer this advanced cardiac MRI technology close to where people live or work, so they can get the care they need without needing to travel far."
To learn more about the advanced cardiac imaging tests, contact AHMHI at Cambridge Medical Center at 763-688-9956 or 763-688-9974 or visit its website.