Philips, Disney Combine Storytelling and Tech to Support Kids During MRIs

Philips and The Walt Disney Company announced that beloved Disney animated characters and stories are being incorporated into Philips Ambient Experience for MRI at medical facilities in 87 countries worldwide for children undergoing MRI procedures.

The companies believe for many children, this immersive environment can help move attention away from the clinical setting to create a more comforting and engaging experience during scans and help more children successfully complete their exams.

Child-friendly, immersive content in pediatric MRI settings can help reduce operational disruptions like re-scans, long pauses, or aborted procedures. A study across six European hospitals highlighted the impact of Ambient Experience with Disney themes—for children aged six to ten, post-scan pediatric patient stress levels were reduced by 43% compared to pre-exam. Pauses during scans also dropped 63% compared to procedures without intervention.

“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.”

“At Disney, we believe stories have the power to bring comfort and emotional connection to children and families,” added Lisa Haines, senior VP, Corporate Social Responsibility, 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.”

Philips Ambient Experience uses calming lighting, sound, and visual elements to help patients relax before and during the exam. Disney-themed content is now being incorporated as part of the Ambient Experience to offer comfort with beloved Disney stories and characters to lower anxiety and stress in children taking MRI exams.

Disney has developed content and environments tailored for clinical settings through longstanding collaborations with children’s hospitals across the world. This includes a recent $100 million commitment to support over 1,700 children’s hospitals and pediatric sites of care in 45 countries.

The company provided the art and imagery in Philips Ambient Experience at no cost. Kids and families can choose characters from across Disney, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Marvel superheroes, favorites from Star Wars, Disney Princesses and many more.