Disney Just Changed Something Major at Hospitals, and We’re Here for It

MRI scans can be scary for young children. Entering a large, unfamiliar machine that makes loud noises, combined with the need to lie perfectly still for up to 40 minutes, can be intimidating. 66% of pediatric patients report feeling anxious during MRI scans. This anxiety or claustrophobia can lead to re-scans, longer procedures, and even the need for sedation, increasing demands on care teams and stress for patients.

Disney noticed this problem and stepped in to help. The Walt Disney Company and Philips announced that beloved Disney animated characters are being incorporated directly into Philips Ambient Experience for MRI machines at medical facilities in 87 countries worldwide. For many children, this immersive environment can help shift attention away from the clinical setting, creating a more comforting and engaging experience during scans and helping more children complete their exams successfully.

Disney has developed content and environments tailored for clinical settings, helping make healthcare experiences feel more familiar and less intimidating for young patients. Children can choose characters from across Disney, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Marvel superheroes, Star Wars favorites, Disney Princesses, and many more. Disney has provided the art and imagery in the Ambient Experience at no cost to hospitals.

The experience uses calming lighting, sound, and visual elements to help patients relax before and during the exam. Patients can easily choose their favorite Disney stories and characters on a tablet to incorporate into their Ambient Experience environment. This ambiance often reduces anxiety and stress in children undergoing an MRI exam.

“At Disney, we believe stories have the power to bring comfort and emotional connection to children and families,” said Lisa Haines, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at The Walt Disney Company. “We’re proud to collaborate with Philips to extend that impact into MRI rooms in a meaningful way — using our beloved stories and characters to help provide moments of escape, normalcy, and reassurance during what can be an intimidating experience for kids in hospitals.”

Pilot hospitals across Europe and Rady Children’s Health of Orange County in California are already seeing positive impacts on both staff and patients. According to Disney, a multi-center study conducted across six hospitals in Europe demonstrates the impact of Ambient Experience with Disney themes. For children ages 6–10, post-scan pediatric patient stress levels were reduced by 43% compared with pre-exam stress levels. In addition, pauses during scans dropped by 63%.

Disney is hoping to expand the MRI Ambient Experience to more children’s hospitals worldwide. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney news!

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What do you think about this new MRI experience? Let us know in the comments!