Hospital Venturing into Film Production? Why New York Hospital is 'Doing Something Else'

Largest Nonprofit Medical Network Service in New York, USA
"Northwell Health Establishes Studio to Discuss Documentary Production"
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Hospitals that deal with human life and death are common settings in movies, dramas, and documentaries. As video content related to medical practices continues to increase, Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in New York, is accelerating its expansion into the film studio business. A hospital that treats patients is literally 'branching out' into something completely different.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently reported that Northwell Health has established Northwell Studios, a system for its own film studio business, and is currently negotiating contracts with New York-based video production companies interested in producing movies, TV programs, documentaries, and more.

Thoracic surgeons are performing heart surgery at a hospital affiliated with Northwell Health. (Photo by Northwell Health website)

Northwell Health is a nonprofit integrated healthcare network operating 21 hospitals and hundreds of clinics across New York State and Long Island. Each year, more than 2 million patients receive treatment, and over 30,000 newborns are born in Northwell Health hospitals.

The market views the sudden entry of such a hospital business into film production as unusual. There are concerns that a hospital dealing with patients' lives and deaths engaging in unrelated businesses could damage its reputation as a medical institution. Kate Lambton, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, pointed out that if hospitals appear overly commercialized, they may face backlash from patients.

In response, Northwell Health explained that such activities help raise awareness of certain medical issues, such as mental illness, and highlight the dedication of doctors and nurses. A representative example is the HBO documentary "One South," released in June, which deals with depression and other mental illnesses. Additionally, WSJ reported that in the highly competitive hospital environment within New York State, Northwell likely sees video content as a way to promote itself, which is also considered beneficial.

Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell, said, "We are not afraid of hospital staff being exposed in films because we believe it will benefit the public overall," adding, "At the same time, I think it will also help our hospital marketing." He further noted, "The healthcare system receives a lot of criticism from people who have never observed our daily operations from the inside."

Dowling emphasized that the Northwell Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) leads the studio operations and that no funds will be secured or invested using cash reserves or loans. He also added that if patients and medical staff appear in productions, their consent is always obtained beforehand.

Hospitals affiliated with Northwell Health have previously been used as filming locations for several documentaries. Since 2019, five documentaries have been produced at Northwell Health hospitals. "Lenox Hill" (2020) and "Emergency: NYC" (2023), released on Netflix, portrayed doctors and nurses on the front lines of life-and-death situations. The documentary "The First Wave," which captured the hospital's urgent response during the early days of COVID-19, was even nominated for an Oscar.