Northwell Health, New Yorks largest healthcare system, is betting that the entertainment business bolster its bottom line, and drive health awareness in the process.

Northwell says that it is launching Northwell Studios, a new production company that is developing scripted and unscripted film and TV content that leverage its facilities, doctors, and patients (with their consent, of course).

Hospitals and health have long been a topic of interest for documentary filmmakers, and Northwell has taken notice. HBOs One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit, debuted last month and was filmed at Northwells Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens; Netflixs Lenox Hill follows doctors and nurses working at Northwells well-known Upper East Side hospital; and the 2021 COVID-19 documentary First Wave was filmed at multiple Northwell facilities. Storytelling through film and television is a powerful way to spark much-needed dialogue around critical issues facing society. AtNorthwellHealth with our previous documentaries and series, weve tackled issues like gun violence, mental health, and the global impact of war. To make a difference on a national scale, we need to expand and focus our efforts, says Ramon Soto,the president of Northwell Studios and the healthcare systems chief marketing communications officer. Now, withNorthwellStudios, were building a bridge to filmmakers and distributors, going beyond traditional marketing to amplify our storytelling capabilities. This dedicated studio will better allow us to foster creative partnerships and establishNorthwellHealth as a leading voice on the issues that matter most our health and wellness.

Northwell Studios has signed a development deal with the production company CreativeChaos, and has five projects already in the works. Northwell says it will continue to work with filmmakers, writers and other creatives by providing access, and will work with distribution partners (like Netflix and HBO) to ensure wide access to its projects.

As New Yorks 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, Northwells president and CEO. Just as weve 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 Studios is the latest example of an established business leveraging its access to build a foothold in the world of entertainment. That is probably most apparent in the world of sports, where leagues like the NFL, MLB and Formula 1 combine their own in-house studios with outside production companies to give behind-the-scenes access to their start athletes.

A hospital system is not a sports league, and doctors and nurses arent household names like many pro athletes (securing consent from healthcare patients is also a lot more complicated), but the access can generate similarly compelling stories, which is why such behind-the-scenes docs have become commonplace on streaming services and TV.