What’s Next in Health Entertainment
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What’s Next in Health Entertainment

originally published on medium

I’ve been writing about the convergence of health and entertainment since 2019, bullish that the silos busting between healthcare and entertainment would yield fan-worthy healthcare. And while my role in this emerging landscape has oscillated between founder and advisor-strategist, I’m excited to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, while recognizing how far we’ve come. Below I share some of my favorite health entertainment products that are now available, while contemplating what’s on the horizon in the next 5–10 years.

Now: Northwell Health Studios

Last month, Northwell Health announced the launch of its very own studio. The largest health system in New York, it saw major success with it’s own Netflix documentary series following the lives of its staff and patients in the show “Emergency: NYC”.

And while medical docu-series aren’t new, having a whole healthcare system launch it’s own entertainment studio demonstrates the growing role entertainment plays in healthcare. While Northwell’s initiative seems to be focused on raising awareness and changing attitudes — a brand expansion emphasis— their commitment and investment in a studio is an encouraging signal that entertainment is becoming a strategic priority within healthcare.

Next: Netflix Prescriptions

Raising awareness and changing attitudes in healthcare is great. We need that. But the real opportunity is using entertainment to change behaviors. Imagine, instead of binge-watching your favorite show, you’re actually prescribed an engaging show to watch in order to support your treatment. We’re going to see shows that can help people quit smoking, increase physical activity, lower blood pressure and regulate their emotions. The episodic nature of TV shows can be leveraged to reinforce new behaviors, while interactive entertainment technologies will provide feedback loops for sustained change. We already have supportive content for healthcare conditions and wellness centric series. Soon, our favorite shows can become part of our own healthcare program. (More here)

Now: Smart TVs

Smart TVs are making moves in healthcare, using their ubiquitous presence in the home to provide in-home health monitoring and telemedicine. Smart TV leader Samsung partnered with healthcare company HealthTap to offer virtual primary care back in 2022. Smart TVs are increasingly becoming more sophisticated, able to monitor a user’s vital signals with their advanced cameras. I haven’t found any reports on user engagement rates and effectiveness of Smart TV delivered healthcare, so this space is still nascent, but I think it has potential, especially for acute and long term care facilities that have significant patient monitoring needs. Telemetry delivered by television would be something straight out of science fiction!

Next: Smart Entertainment?

And while Smart TVs are being equipped with healthful capabilities, it’s the AI content revolution that I find most exciting. With Smart TVs and wearables gaining traction, AI will soon be leveraged to customize content based on your health signals.

Feeling stressed? Turn on the Smart TV and an episode of your favorite calming show will come on. Or maybe you’ll get a notification on your Apple watch to play a mindfulness game based on your respiration rate. AI can adjust the content based on your bio-signals. We’ll eventually get to the point of personalized entertainment, with your body’s signals directing the AI to generate content based on your needs and preferences. It’s not just about Smart TVs and Smart Watches. It’s all about Smart Entertainment?. (More on this here)

Now: Games as therapeutics

Akili Interactive pioneered games as medicine with its FDA-approved EndeavorRx ADHD game, but its struggles in reimbursement and revenue strategy have left much to be desired. Games that improve health are great, but who’s paying for it? Thankfully, companies like DeepWell DTX are leading the charge on this, working with regulatory bodies to expand digital therapeutics approval and bridge the gap between engaging games, effective therapies and reimbursement.

Next: Games for Health Equity

There has been a lot done on using games for social change, but I think we have a unique opportunity to use gaming to advance health equity. This could be as simple as RPG games with storylines based on real health cases, or leveraging gaming communities to direct attention and funding to causes. I personally would love to see more storylines in games that help people practice self advocacy and prepare them for navigating the madness that is health care. There is already some board games that tackle these topics, but I think we’ll get to the point where players can have real world impact on health equity based on the games they play.

The intersection of health and entertainment is an exciting frontier that is continually evolving. From health-focused documentaries and AI-driven Smart Entertainment? to games that serve as therapeutics and tools for health equity, the blending of these fields promises to revolutionize how we perceive and engage with healthcare. As we look ahead to the next 5–10 years, the potential for entertainment to not only raise awareness and change attitudes but also drive behavioral change and improve health outcomes is immense. The innovations discussed here are just the beginning, and I am eager to see how this space continues to develop, breaking down more silos and delivering even more impactful and engaging healthcare experiences. Let’s embrace this journey and continue to explore the limitless possibilities at the convergence of health and entertainment.

Ari Mostov is narrative strategist and entertainment producer. She is committed to using storytelling to scale healing. Learn more: www.wellplay.world


Janardan Prasad

?? Build, ?? Launch, ?? Scale, ? Repeat | Health AI Entrepreneur | FastCompany: 100 Most creative people in business

3 个月

Great insights into the future of Health + Entertainment

Ryan Douglas

Founder, Therapy Designer & Investor | Culture, Innovation & Positive Change

3 个月

Reposting this to the Immersive Medicine Network

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