Mayo Opens 'Health Experience' At Mall Of America
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) -- The number one tourist attraction in the state is getting the best of the best in health care.
On Thursday, Mayo Clinic is opening the doors of its new health and wellness center at Mall of America.
It's the first time Mayo has done anything like this.
"This is obviously completely different from where we are in a traditional clinic setting," says Dr. David Hayes.
The Mayo Clinic Health Experience is far from a clinic, it's more like something you'd see in a science museum.
One of the exhibits is called augmented reality and it helps people learn about the body. You step in front of a camera, see yourself in the monitor, and watch as the program places organs on the screen – matching where they are in your body. Facts pop up telling you about how the lungs, brain, and heart work inside your body.
Doctor David Hayes said the idea is to help people improve their overall health when it comes to sleep, eating habits, and exercise.
"Health care is changing. It's growing, it's expanding. People are also shifting their mindset to just going to the doctor when they're sick to trying to stay healthy, trying to stay well," he said.
Mayo clinic health workers are on hand to help people find ways to improve their lifestyle.
Elizabeth Blaschko said all of the displays are interactive and very easy to use.
"Some people might come in and want information on how to get started on eating healthy or starting to exercise people want more specific info like how to train for a 5k," said Blaschko.
If you aren't feeling well, the symptom checker will help diagnose you.
If you think an experience you've had could help others, Mayo has a camera ready to record and play on YouTube.
Doctors said this gives them a pulse on the type of help people are looking for.
For mall goers, it could make for a healthier shopping trip.
"I think it's a good idea. You have a lot of people passing through the Mall of America. I think they'll get a lot of people to look it over," said mall visitor, Art Olson.
Later this month, Mayo will open an additional clinic at the Mall where doctors will focus on screening and prevention.
This will include skin cancer and genetic screenings, vaccination clinics, and back to school check-ups to name a few.
It's on the first floor near the rotunda and by Nickelodeon Universe.
