Northwell Health has set its sights on the entertainment industry.
The health system, the largest in New York state, launched a new TV and film production studio called Northwell Studios to produce original scripted and unscripted content leveraging its hospitals, doctors and consented patients. Northwell says it will prioritize patient privacy.
Northwell Studios inked a new development deal with film and television production company CreativeChaos and has five projects in the works, the health system said Wednesday. The studio division will focus on using the "power of storytelling and entertainment to humanize health care and spark meaningful social conversations," executives said in a press release.
The productions include stories about "Northwell’s clinical expertise, one-of-a-kind patient-centered programs, innovative technologies and brave and bold employees and patients who are at the heart of every story," according to the health system.
Northwell Health has participated in five documentaries so far, including the Netflix series "Lenox Hill," which follows doctors and nurses working at the health system's Upper East Side hospital, "Emergency NYC," a Netflix docuseries that follows New York City's front-line medical professionals and COVID-19 documentary "First Wave," which was shortlisted in 2021 for an Academy Award.
The five documentaries on which Northwell has worked so far have garnered six Emmy Awards and an Academy Award shortlist nod. The health system’s most recent project, HBO’s "One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit," was filmed at Northwell’s Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens, New York.
Northwell Studios will develop a diverse slate of video-focused productions, including docuseries, scripted films and other innovative video content, the health system said.
“We recognize the immense power of storytelling to connect with audiences on a deeper level,” said Ramon Soto, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Northwell Health, in a statement. “Northwell Studios represents a natural evolution of our commitment to purpose-driven and movement thinking, a framework we’ve pioneered to translate brand purpose into impactful real-world initiatives. Through entertainment, we can break down the walls of our hospitals, amplify the voices of our frontline heroes, and shed light on critical health and societal issues.”
Northwell Studios also will work with filmmakers, writers and other creatives to create content.
"By opening the doors to its facilities and providing access to our network of medical experts and consented patients, Northwell Studios will work hand-in-hand with storytellers to develop and produce compelling content. Furthermore, the studio is committed to partnering with distributors to ensure these stories reach a wide and engaged audience," Northwell Health executives said.
“As New York's largest healthcare provider, Northwell has a responsibility to lead not just in treating patients in our communities, but in addressing the critical social issues that impact our collective well-being,” said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, in a statement. "Just as we’ve done with gun violence, mental health, and other urgent challenges, Northwell Studios will leverage the power of storytelling to change the conversation, spark dialogue, and inspire action on a global scale.”
Northwell operates 21 hospitals and about 900 outpatient facilities with more than 12,000 affiliated physicians. The health system cares for more than 2 million people annually in the New York metro and regional areas.