How Disney is Making Getting an MRI Better

For many of us, especially kids, Disney is our happy place…that place we go to in our minds when we’re stressed out and need a break from it all. And when you’re in a medical environment, feeling that is even more important.

©Disney

Getting an MRI can be stressful, especially for a child who may not understand what’s going on. That’s why Disney has partnered with Philips to make MRIs less stressful for kids and make it a more pleasant experience.

Walt Disney and Philips have worked together to bring Disney characters and stories directly into Philips Ambient Experience for MRI at medical facilities across 87 countries. This creates an immersive Disney-themed environment that takes a lot of the stress out of getting an MRI for a child so they can complete their scans successfully. Disney has even developed special content for medical settings, fulfilling a $100 million commitment to more than 1,700 children’s hospitals and pediatric care facilities.

©Disney

Disney has even trained thousands of hospital staff members through Disney Institute programs and has provided the art and imagery for the MRI machines at no cost. The experience lets children and their families choose from characters across Disney’s properties, including classic Disney characters, Princesses, Marvel characters, Star Wars characters, and more.

©Disney

MRI scans are stressful for children, especially since they require lying perfectly still for up to 40 minutes. Statistics state that 66 percent of children feel anxious during MRI scans. That means that they may need re-scans and often sedation. However, the Ambient Experience with Disney Themes has helped with that. A study shows that children’s stress levels were reduced by 43 percent, with pauses during scans dropping by 63 percent.

©Disney

So how does it work? It starts before the scan, using calming lighting, sound, and visuals to help children relax, and continuing that during the exam. Children can choose their favorite Disney stories and characters to use during the experience.

©Disney

“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,” said Atul Gupta, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Diagnosis and Treatment at Philips. “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.”

We’ll keep an eye out for more Disney news, so check back with AllEars again soon for more.

Everything First Aid Centers Can Do For You in Disney World

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

What do you think about this news? Share your thoughts in the comments!