Disney and health tech company Phillips have collaborated to bring some comfort to children undergoing MRI scans. Stories and characters are integrated into the machines to provide an immersive environment.
Disney-Themed MRI Machines
The scanners launched this week in the United States, the United Kingdom, and a handful of other countries. If you’ve ever been inside one of these machines, you know they are loud, cramped, and uncomfortable. They can be especially overwhelming for children.
As seen in the photo above, Disney characters and scenes have been incorporated into the machine to distract and comfort younger patients. The Phillips website has images of The Little Mermaid, Sorcerer Mickey, Spider-Man, Marvel characters, and more.
A study conducted at six European hospitals showed that these themed machines reduced stress levels in patients between the ages of 6 and 10. It also saw pauses during scans drop by 63% compared to those without intervention.
“The data showed that a child-friendly audio-visual intervention reduced stress levels in young children and decreased scan disruptions, supporting a smoother MRI workflow,” said Emilio J. Inarejos Clemente, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain. “This can help clinicians maintain efficiency and focus on delivering high-quality diagnostic imaging, helping more patients to be seen without compromising care.”
Eligible machines in 87 countries will receive these upgrades.
Lisa Haines, SVP for corporate social responsibility at The Walt Disney Company said: “At Disney, we believe stories have the power to bring comfort and emotional connection to children and families. 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.”
“By bringing Disney stories into the MRI environment, we are helping create a setting where children can feel more at ease and remain still during scans. Reducing stress can improve the experience for young patients and their families, while helping care teams deliver efficient, high-quality imaging so they can care for more children each day, supporting better care for more people,” remarked Atul Gupta, Philips’ chief medical officer.
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