Theme parks, a certain cartoon mouse or the TV station with beloved “Hannah Montana” reruns generally come to mind with mention of The Walt Disney Company legacy. However, more recently the Disney Institute has been working to inspire a different legacy by sharing its business ideals with health care providers.
For Alicia Matheson, a Disney Institute facilitator, the secret to Disney’s success isn’t entirely in “the magic.”
“It’s about learning about the business behind the magic,” Matheson said.
On Tuesday, health care professionals, medical students, business students and student volunteers gathered at Creighton for the “Disney Keys to Excellence: Quality Service for Healthcare Professionals.” The main focus of this event was to share Disney’s business philosophies and apply them to the health care world.
Business freshman Krysten Mayes volunteered at the event to promote the service Disney provides.”Disney provides the best possible quality of service, and this event helps health care professionals to do the same,” Mayes said.
The event taught the business side of health care along with the qualities a health care professional should obtain.
For Business senior Geneva Harriman, the business side is just as important as a patient’s treatment, but it is sometimes overlooked.
“To be a health care professional, you have to have a business background,” Harriman said. “That’s why the partnership between the College of Business and the medical school is so important.”
Tuesday was full of activities, workshops and examples provided by the Disney facilitators to show that business philosophies aren’t just fueled by a fairy godmother. Disney has perfected a formula to run a successful business.
When applied to health care, Disney demonstrates how to keep patients happy. It suggests that professionals assess the patient’s needs and wants while making sure to avoid stereotypes. According to Mayes, this formula is why the quality of service Disney provides keeps customers coming back.
“People love to go to Disney,” Mayes said. “They are excited, comfortable and want to go; that same strategy can be applied to health care.”
In fact, health care is similar to The Walt Disney Company, said Disney Facilitator Austin Brock. She said the qualities Disney shares can be adapted by any company, even if it has a different general focus.
Another important lesson Disney provides is passion. All Disney employees are called “cast members,” and each plays a vital role in the company’s success. Brock said it is the employees’ passion for their career that is truly inspiring in the business world.
“Our cast members are so devoted. They all have a love for bringing Walt’s vision to life,” Brock said.