MRI scans can be scary, especially for children. So hospitals can now bet on some Disney magic to remove at least some of their fears: Mickey and Minnie Mouse; Buzz Woody; Marvel superheroes Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Doctor Strange; star wars Favorites, like Rey, Poe, Finn and Yoda; And Disney princesses are coming to the rescue!
Royal Philips and The Walt Disney Company revealed Thursday that “beloved Disney animated characters and stories are being integrated directly into the Philips Ambient Experience MRI at medical facilities in 87 countries around the world to support children undergoing imaging procedures.” Participating countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Poland, Belgium and Denmark.
Disney said the newer scanners use lighting, sound and built-in Disney characters to transform the MRI environment into a “more immersive, calming and familiar experience for children” undergoing such scans.
Emphasizing the stress-reducing benefits and intimidation of having to lie down completely for up to 40 minutes, they explain: “For many children, this type of immersive environment can help shift attention away from the clinical setting, creating a more comfortable and engaging experience during scans, and helping more children successfully complete their exams.”
“At Disney, we believe that stories have the power to provide comfort and emotional connection to children and families,” said Lisa Haynes, senior vice president of CSR at Disney. “We are proud to collaborate with Philips to extend that impact to 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 a frightening experience for children in hospitals.”
The partners highlighted that a multi-center study conducted across six hospitals in Europe with Ambient Experience with Disney subjects found that children ages 6 to 10 years old experienced a 43 percent reduction in post-screening stress levels compared to pre-screening stress levels. Additionally, pauses during scans decreased by 63 percent.
Ambient Experience themes are created from sketches by award-winning illustrator Joey Chu. “Joining the Disney Children’s Hospitals program has been an amazing journey,” he said. “When Disney asked me to create shared visual worlds where some of their beloved characters could come together in a hospital setting, it was an amazing challenge. I never fully realized how much comfort and joy those familiar faces would bring to children all over the world. If my art helps a child feel a little less lonely on a hard day, or brings a sense of familiarity when they need it most, that means everything to me.”
Royal Calderdale Hospital in the UK has become the first National Health Service (NHS) site to offer Disney-themed MRI scanners. The urban area is located in West Yorkshire, England, near the cities of Bradford, Leeds and Manchester. Around 200,000 children in the UK have MRI scans every year, and almost one in three require general anesthesia because they struggle to stay still or simply find the experience painful.
Following peer-reviewed European research into the test results, the technology is being rolled out more widely in the UK. More than 100 NHS hospitals already using Philips Ambient Experience technology will now be eligible to use Disney characters at no additional cost.
The Philips Ambient Experience for MRI is the exclusive MRI platform that uses these Disney themes. Early adopters include pilot hospitals across Europe and hospitals like Rady Children’s Health in Orange County.
Lauren, whose 7-year-old daughter Esme underwent an MRI scan, told the team behind the new experiment how the girl reacted when she saw her chosen Disney character. “I think the Philips Ambient Experience with Disney helped her relax. It gave her something to focus on and distract herself,” the mother said. “If she hadn’t had that, I think she might have started moving, or gotten anxious or bored.”
When asked what she would say to other children undergoing x-rays, Esme said: “It’s okay because you can watch Disney.”
