Mall of America Welcomes Mayo Clinic Outpost

The Mayo Clinic opened its "health laboratory" in the Mall of America Thursday. The famous cancer and research hospital cut the ribbon on the "Create Your Mayo Clinic Health Experience," which is an educational venture meant to inform, and occasionally diagnose, mall patrons.

Shoppers can speak with trained healthcare staff, as well as complete wellness assessments at the Minneapolis, Minn. super-mall. Staff will guide customers through future health plans, and the first-floor clinic features interactive booths and kiosks.

“What differentiates this space is that it’s totally customized, allowing you to do as much or as little as you want. Whether stopping in to buy a book and leave, registering to further personalize your experience, or even meeting privately with a health experience navigator, this is truly a customized experience,” Dr. David Hayes, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, who is leading the Mall of America project, noted in a press release.

Each of the video booths has a theme, ranging from "discover" to "move," "eat well," "relax," and "sleep." There is also a symptom checker, and all of the services are free of charge.

The Mayo Clinic stated that if the project is successful, it would like to expand the facility to include treatment and care.

"We consider this a lab as we try to decide what we want to offer in a permanent facility, if we do that," Hayes told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Mayo already has a significant presence in the Twin Cities, and has 70 medical facilities in the states of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. The hospital signed a two-year least for the space, and the mall has promised that the clinic will get first choice of space when the Mall of America expands.

The Mall of America is the largest mall in the United States, and has a number of attractions, including a roller-coaster and a LEGO Land.