Mayo employees use virtual reality to plan for new La Crosse hospital

It may look like they’re playing video games, but staffers at Mayo in La Crosse are using virtual reality systems to help plan Mayo’s new hospital, which will open toward the end of 2024.

Workers in several departments can view room plans through the special goggles, and make suggestions to the construction team. 

The goggles give viewers a 3-D image of what areas of the new hospital would look like, from windows to cabinets and drawers.

Nick Worden is a supervisor on the construction project, and he says the virtual views are an improvement over old-fashioned blueprints.

“A lot of people struggle looking at a floor plan view of things,” says Worden, “and then going, okay, if I’m standing here taking care of patient, or baby, how much room do I have around me?”