Disney Magic to Counter Childhood Fears During MRI Scans

MRI scans can be fear-inducing, especially for children. So now hospitals can bet on some Disney magic to take away at least some of their worries: Mickey and Minnie Mouse; Buzz and Woody; Marvel superheroes Black Panther, Captain Marvel and Doctor Strange; Star Wars favorites, such as Rey, Poe, Finn and Yoda; and Disney Princesses are coming to the rescue!

Royal Philips and the Walt Disney Co. unveiled on Thursday that “beloved Disney animated characters and stories are being incorporated directly into Philips Ambient Experience for MRI at medical facilities in 87 countries worldwide to support children undergoing imaging procedures.” Among the participating countries are the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Poland, Belgium and Denmark.

The state-of-the-art scanners use lighting, sound and integrated Disney characters to transform the MRI environment into “a more immersive, calming and familiar experience for children” undergoing such scans, Disney said.

Focusing on the benefits of reducing the stress and intimidation of needing to lie perfectly still for up to 40 minutes, they explained: “For many children, this type of 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.”

Said Lisa Haines, Disney’s senior vp, corporate social responsibility: “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.”  

The partners highlighted that a multi-center study conducted across six hospitals in Europe with the Ambient Experience with Disney themes found that children ages 6–10 saw post-scan stress levels reduced by 43 percent compared to their pre-exam stress levels. In addition, pauses during scans dropped by 63 percent.  

The Ambient Experience themes were created from sketches by award-winning illustrator Joey Chou. “Being part of 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 its most beloved characters could come together in a hospital setting, it was a wonderful challenge. I didn’t fully realize how much comfort and joy those familiar faces would bring to kids around the world. If my art helps a child feel a little less alone on a hard day, or brings a sense of familiarity when they need it most, then that means everything to me.”

Calderdale Royal Hospital in the U.K. has become the first site of the National Health Service (NHS) to introduce Disney-themed MRI scanners. The metropolitan district in West Yorkshire, England, is near the cities of Bradford, Leeds and Manchester. Around 200,000 children in the U.K. undergo MRI scans each year, with roughly one in three requiring a general anesthetic because they struggle to stay still or simply find the experience distressing.

Following peer-reviewed European research into the results from test runs, the technology is being rolled out more widely in the U.K. More than 100 NHS hospitals already using Philips Ambient Experience technology will now be eligible to use the Disney characters at no additional cost. 

Philips Ambient Experience for MRI is the exclusive MRI platform using these Disney themes. Early adopters of the themes include pilot hospitals across Europe and such hospitals as Rady Children’s Health of Orange County.

Lauren, whose 7-year-old daughter Esme went through an MRI scan, told the team behind the new experience how the girl reacted when she saw her chosen Disney character. “I think the Philips Ambient Experience with Disney just helped her relax. It gave her something to focus on and be distracted by,” the mother shared. “If she hadn’t had that, I think she might have started moving, getting restless or bored.”

Asked what she would tell other children having a scan, Esme said: “It’s OK because you get to watch Disney.”