Pull to refresh
Logo
What Changed
Following Why Sign Up
Dell Children's moves at-home hospice care to outpatient clinic

Dell Children's moves at-home hospice care to outpatient clinic

Rule Changes Austin, TX local

Families say the change removes in-home support for children with complex illnesses.

Today: Dell Children's confirms hospice shift to outpatient clinic

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin is moving its at-home pediatric hospice program into an outpatient clinic. The hospital says the change will centralize palliative care doctors, case managers, and social workers in one clinic.

Families who relied on home visits say the shift removes the hands-on support that let them care for dying children at home. One parent, nurse Shannon McLennan, told KVUE her 19-year-old daughter Oli relies on IV nutrition and at-home hospice care.

Why it matters

For families of children with complex illness, hospice at home may be replaced by clinic visits and phone check-ins.

Monday: what changed in Austin, TX

One short email a week with the openings, closings, permits and council votes we covered. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

19
Age of patient Oli McLennan
She relies on at-home hospice and IV nutrition.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

People Involved

SM
Shannon McLennan
Parent and nurse advocating for at-home pediatric hospice
Caring for her 19-year-old daughter and advocating for at-home hospice
OM
Oli McLennan
Patient receiving at-home hospice care
19, nonverbal, health declining

Organizations Involved

Dell Children's Medical Center
Dell Children's Medical Center
Pediatric hospital
Transitioning its at-home hospice program to an outpatient clinic

Austin pediatric hospital that confirmed the hospice program change.

Timeline

1 event Latest: Today

  1. Dell Children's confirms hospice shift to outpatient clinic

    Today Statement

    Hospital says at-home hospice will move to its Comprehensive Care Clinic with daily phone check-ins and individualized transition plans.

Scenarios

1

Dell Children's completes shift to outpatient hospice clinic

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Dell Children's spokesperson statement reported by KVUE

The hospital has confirmed the change and said transition plans are underway. Completion would mean the at-home program no longer operates and families are routed to the Comprehensive Care Clinic or other providers.

2

Dell Children's pauses or reverses hospice transition after family pushback

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: KVUE reporting on family concerns

Families say the change removes in-home support. Enough public pressure or operational problems could lead the hospital to keep the at-home program open or postpone the transition.

3

Families arrange in-home hospice through another provider

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: KVUE reporting on family options

Oli McLennan can move to an adult hospice program because she is 19. Other families may also seek outside providers if the Dell Children's clinic does not meet their need for in-home care.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1967

St Christopher's Hospice opens (1967)

Dame Cicely Saunders opened St Christopher's Hospice in London, combining pain control, clinical care, and home-like surroundings for terminally ill patients.

Then

The model spread across the United Kingdom and United States.

Now

Hospice care became associated with comfort and dignity, often delivered at home.

Why this matters now

Dell Children's shift from home visits to an outpatient clinic tests that home-centered model for pediatric patients.

1982

Medicare hospice benefit created (1982)

The U.S. Congress added a Medicare hospice benefit, allowing terminally ill patients to choose palliative care over curative treatment.

Then

Hospice enrollment grew.

Now

Most U.S. hospice care is delivered at home, though hospital-based programs vary.

Why this matters now

The Dell Children's change raises questions about what families lose when a hospital moves pediatric hospice into a clinic.

Sources

(1)
KVUE