The Minnesota Medical Association urges Gov. Tim Walz and all state leaders to immediately embrace expanded COVID-19 controls to protect the health and safety of all Minnesotans. The MMA welcomed Gov. Walz’s actions of last week to slow the spread of COVID-19 but the growth in infections is outpacing the reach of those changes.

The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) supports the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Nov. 9. and is strongly encouraging Minnesotans to re-think their holiday plans if those plans include gathering in-person.

“Normally the last few months of the year are a time of celebration, of getting together with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. But this year is unlike any other,” said MMA President Marilyn Peitso, MD. “As the CDC recommends, be mindful of the various factors that contribute to the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 at in-person gatherings, and work to minimize your risk and that of others. We need to think of the health of our family and friends. You may feel fine and healthy, but what about grandpa and grandma or your elderly parents? The state is seeing tremendous growth in COVID-19 infections and deaths, and we need to all do our part to slow the spread.”

The Minnesota Medical Association, and its 10,000+ physician, resident and medical student members, want to thank Gov. Tim Walz for his decision to take needed action and further restrict opportunities to gather in large groups at bars and restaurants, and at receptions. 

The MMA and MHA join other professional organizations in expressing our disappointment over remarks suggesting that physicians and hospitals in America are trying to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic. Hard-working professionals and frontline health care heroes in Minnesota and across the nation who are putting their lives on the line every day treating victims of this relentless virus deserve more. Our physicians, nurses and care teams are driven by a collective mission of providing the highest quality care 24/7 to all Minnesotans, including those suffering from the effects of COVID-19. Health care professionals and other frontline care team members need teamwork and support to defeat this pandemic. Given the rapidly increasing community spread of COVID-19 in our state, we ask for your support of our health care heroes by please wearing a mask, following physical distancing guidelines and washing your hands.

Six physicians were honored with MMA awards as part of this year’s virtual Annual Conference. Each year, the MMA honors those in medicine for going above and beyond.

Marilyn Peitso, MD, was installed as the Minnesota Medical Association’s (MMA) 154th president on Sept. 24 during the group’s virtual Annual Conference. Her term, which officially begins Oct. 1, lasts one year.

On behalf of Minnesota physicians, the Minnesota Medical Association is greatly disturbed about recent events that have occurred as we try to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota.

Minnesotans experienced adverse health outcomes due to delays in care, the use of telehealth has surged, the bottom lines of physician practices in Minnesota were hurt significantly during the first months of the COVD-19 pandemic, and doctors fear the next wave of the virus. These are a few of the key findings of a recent study commissioned by the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) on the impact of the pandemic on physician practices.

The study, “Minnesota Physicians Respond to COVID-19,” is based on responses to two surveys – one sent to Minnesota physicians (the 641 responses represent a +/- 4 percent margin of error at 95 percent confidence interval) and one sent to medical practice administrators (92 responses). Surveys were completed between June 16 and July 13, 2020.

Although it appears the 2020-2021 academic year will be unlike any other, one constant Minnesota physicians would like to see is that parents and caregivers practice good health by maintaining routine and back-to-school vaccinations for children and adolescents.

“The Minnesota Medical Association thanks Gov. Walz for requiring all Minnesotans to wear face masks in indoor public places and businesses.

“The Minnesota Medical Association applauds the city of Duluth for requiring its citizens to wear face masks in indoor public places and businesses. On June 26, the MMA urged public and private leaders across the state to require the wearing of face masks or face coverings to help control the spread of COVID-19. Until this happens statewide, we will continue to urge other cities and businesses to step up to protect the health of their communities.

“The Minnesota Medical Association applauds the decisions by the cities of Edina, Mankato and Rochester to require that their citizens wear face masks in indoor public places and businesses. On June 26, the MMA urged public and private leaders across the state to require the wearing of face masks or face coverings to help control the spread of COVID-19. Until this happens statewide, we urge other cities and businesses to step up to protect the health of their communities.

The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) and 20 other state medical societies urge public and private leaders across the state to require the wearing of face masks or face coverings to help control the spread of COVID-19.

The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA), the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MNAAP) and the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) have partnered to encourage Minnesotans to Practice Good Health and maintain routine childhood vaccinations.

Minnesota’s physicians are urging Minnesotans to practice good health by leaving the lighting of fireworks to the professionals this Fourth of July.

“Every year many Minnesotans get hurt and end up in the emergency department because of fireworks injuries,” said MMA President Keith Stelter, MD. “We’d prefer that they leave these potentially very dangerous explosives to the professionals.” 

MMA President Keith Stelter, MD
The Minnesota Medical Association is committed to achieving health equity and ensuring that all Minnesotans have an equal opportunity to achieve optimal health. No Minnesotan should face discrimination in care because of their sexual orientation, gender identification, race, religion, or any other characteristic. The MMA strongly opposes the Trump administration’s recent regulatory action to remove federal protections under the Affordable Care Act for transgender and other LGBTQ Americans seeking health care. At the same time, the MMA applauds the Supreme Court’s action today to ensure that members of the LGBTQ community cannot be discriminated against in the workplace. Minnesotans’ ability to practice good health requires a health care system that rejects discrimination in all forms. 

The Twin Cites Medical Society and the Minnesota Medical Association are saddened and troubled by the death of George Floyd. His death serves as a stark reminder that violent police tactics, discrimination in crime laws, and bias in incarceration pose serious threats to health.

“The Minnesota Medical Association and its 10,000 physician, resident and medical student members fully support St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s call for St. Paulites to wear face masks in indoor public places and businesses.
 

“The Minnesota Medical Association and its 10,000 physician, resident and medical student members fully support Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s call for citizens to wear face masks in indoor public places.

On May 1, the MMA and 23 Minnesota medical specialty societies and medical groups
presented the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) with recommendations intended to inform
changes to Executive Order 20-09 in order to allow Minnesota health care providers to resume the
delivery of medically necessary care in a safe, controlled and planful way.

With all eyes on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) and its 10,000 members want to remind Minnesotans to pay attention to all aspects of their health. 

“These days it’s hard to focus on anything else but COVID-19,” says MMA President Keith Stelter, MD. “But, don’t disregard other health conditions or concerns. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, or other acute or chronic conditions, don’t ignore them. Continue to take your medications and reach out to your doctor by phone or e-visit options. Your doctor or clinic will contact you if a face-to-face visit is necessary. And those with serious health concerns should not be afraid to seek care or go to an emergency room, if needed.”

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) and more than a dozen state-based medical specialty societies strongly support Gov. Tim Walz’s latest “Stay Home MN” Executive Order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota. The MMA and some other specialty societies had previously urged the governor to take this action.

As the state’s largest physician advocacy group, the Minnesota Medical Association strongly supports the measures taken to date by Gov. Tim Walz to slow the spread of COVID-19 and “flatten the curve.”  These seemingly extreme actions, while disruptive to our day-to-day lives, are absolutely necessary to save the lives of Minnesotans, particularly high-risk individuals, and to protect our health care system from being overwhelmed.