Walz signs executive order allowing elective surgeries to resume

Tuesday, Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order that will allow elective surgeries to resume.

The order allows hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and clinics to provide elective surgeries that were delayed to help curb the spread of COVID-19 and build up hospital capacity.

Starting next week, Walz announced doctors, dentists, and veterinarians who create a plan to keep patients and healthcare professionals safe may begin offering these procedures, which can treat chronic conditions, prevent and cure disease, and relieve chronic pain.

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"Minnesota has made significant progress in building up critical resources to combat COVID-19," Walz said. "We’re proud that this progress will allow our medical professionals to safely resume certain procedures to keep Minnesotans healthy and improve their quality of life."

"They need to have plans for how they’re going to screen patients, how they’re going to protect staff, how they’re going to keep track of PPE and how they’re going to collaborate with each other," said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.

"We don’t take it lightly," said Shana Ess, Whiting Clinic Practice Manager. "It’s a balance between getting back to doing what we love doing and making sure that we support the community in which we aim to serve."

Gov. Walz acknowledged some "elective" procedures are necessary to health and wellness – what some have been saying.

"Just from a safety or health perspective, to not put your fingers or your hands near your face to deal with glasses or contact lenses, is something that Lasik brings to people more now," said Ess.

Dr. Melissa Naidyhorski says resuming dental procedures is also important for overall health.

"For example, if you have inflammation in you and you’re fighting an infection in your mouth, that’s going to weaken your immune system and make it harder to fight other infections in your body," said Naidyhorski, dentist and owner at Tranquility Dental in St. Louis Park.

Both are already working on some of those new safety measures.

"Between N-95 masks, and face shields, gowns and hair coverings, I want to make it something that the staff feel very safe and comfortable as well," said Naidyhorski.

"This is going to be no different with regards to making sure our patients feel safe when they’re entering our doors, that our staff feel safe caring the patients," said Ess. "We’ll be checking temperatures upon patient arrival. We will be asking patients to wear masks, all of our staff will wear masks."

Not only will these providers operate again, but for many it’s also a chance to get back to doing what they love.

"It’s my passion," said Naidyhorski. "Just being able to take care of people. Just being able to welcome back our patients and our team, they’re all part of our family here."