Disney to revamp children’s hospital experience with $100 million pledge

The Walt Disney Company will dedicate more than $100 million in cash, products, and services to reinvent patient and family experiences in children’s hospitals around the world.

The new initiative will roll out over the next five years, Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company announced today.

“Using the powerful combination of our beloved characters and legendary creativity, we’re planning to transform the patient experience in children’s hospitals around the world—creating a personalized and engaging atmosphere that will inspire young patients and ease the stress of a hospital stay,” Iger said in a statement.

Disney is working with a panel of doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, parents and child life professionals to advise them on the best ways Disney can help hospitals create a more personalized and comforting experience for patients and families. Disney will take this information and work with its Imagineers to create this experience for patients and families during their time at the hospital.

“Disney stories and characters provide a shared vocabulary between our young patients and their medical team,” Dr. James B. Fahner, M.D., F.A.A.P Division Chief, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Helen Devos Children’s Hospital/Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan and a member of the panel working with Disney on this initiative, said.

The new initiatives will include:

• The use  RFID-based system allowing patients to customize their hospital visit by choosing their favorite Disney stories and characters, which will surround them during their stay. The system will also unlock special elements to further personalize and enhance the experience, such as “enchanted” artwork that comes alive.
• Themed treatment and patient rooms featuring interactive murals of Disney stories, bed linens and gowns featuring each child’s favorite characters, and personalized in-room entertainment. Additionally, well stocked mobile “play carts” will include Disney-themed games and activities to give families something to do together to help alleviate stress and boredom.
• Disney first-run movies and television shows, available both in-room and in themed pop up movie theaters in the hospital.
• Disney customer-experience training for doctors, nurses and staff. The Disney Institute is part of The Walt Disney Company that provides professional development training focused on leadership, employee engagement and high quality service. The goal of the training is to  create a customized program for healthcare professionals designed to foster a less stressful, patient and family-centric hospital experience.

The first hospital to work with Disney is Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. It is the argest children’s hospital in the U.S.

The Company is also expanding its work with children’s wish-granting organizations. In 2017, The Walt Disney Company, through all its affiliated brands, granted more than 10,000 wishes for children facing critical illnesses around the world.

This new initiative to reimagine the children’s hospital experience is part of the Company’s “Team of Heroes” community outreach and philanthropy efforts.