Texas Children’s and Disney team up to enhance the patient experience
In March 2018, The Walt Disney Company began a $100 million initiative to bring comfort and entertainment to patients and their families in hospitals across the globe. Texas Children’s was chosen as the pilot hospital for this unique program. As the largest children’s hospital in the U.S. and a national leader in pediatric health, we were proud to be Disney’s first choice to collaborate in this exciting initiative.
Program components include themed treatment rooms, public spaces, hospital gowns care packages and badges for employees; interactive murals; personalized in-room entertainment and pop-up movie theatres in the hospital showing Disney first-run movies and television shows. What wonderful treats for our patients, families and staff!
Our partnership also includes Disney customer experience training for both clinical and non-clinical staff. The renowned Disney Institute, which provides professional development training focused on leadership, employee engagement and high-quality service, created a customized program designed to foster a less stressful, patient and family-centered hospital experience.
While the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on many things in 2020 and 2021, the Disney Initiative remained strong. Accomplishments for 2021 include:
- 600 Disney Care Packages and gowns distributed to patients
- Three augmented reality murals added across the system
- Two cinemas added at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands
- Magic Windows added in the Mark A. Wallace Tower
- Visual updates added to Magic Art installations
- 2,299 leaders and staff trained
Texas Children’s staff love patients’ reactions to all things Disney. Here are just a few of the things they had to say:
“This is a perfect installation in our high traffic waiting areas like the Mark Wallace Tower. Movie watching is an activity we already utilize in most of these areas, but with smaller TVs. This just adds to the grand experience.”
“These windows provide great points of reference and interaction for staff, patients and families with fun Disney characters.”
“The Magic Windows have an especially high impact in waiting areas, like the one for Pathology and Pharmacy on the third floor of the Mark A. Wallace Tower. In this particular space, many children and families are waiting to have blood work done, which can be anxiety provoking. The Magic Window adds depth, color and life. It's a wonderful addition to the patient experience here.”
Installation of Disney concepts began at the Texas Medical Center campus in March 2019 and were expanded to the other campuses in November 2020. We are especially excited about continuing our partnership with Disney and incorporating Disney magic in the new Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin Campus, scheduled for completion in 2024.
Thank you, Disney, for all the joy you bring to patients, families and staff at Texas Children’s Hospital!