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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

Central Texas has no in-home pediatric hospice provider after Dell Children's closed the program.

October 31st, 2026: Dell Children's confirms hospice shift to outpatient clinic

Overview

Updated 5 days ago

Dell Children's Medical Center closed its at-home pediatric hospice program on Oct. 30, leaving Central Texas without a provider that sends hospice care to dying children's homes. The hospital moved care to its Comprehensive Care Clinic, which serves children with complex diagnoses and offers clinic visits and daily phone check-ins instead of home visits.

Shannon McLennan, a nurse in Leander, said she was not given a transition plan for her 19-year-old daughter Oli, who has received hospice care from Dell Children's since March. Oli can move to Hospice Austin's adult program because of her age, but McLennan said younger children in the Austin area now have no pediatric in-home hospice option.

Why it matters

Children in Central Texas who need end-of-life care at home now have no local pediatric hospice provider.

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Key Indicators

0
In-home pediatric hospice providers left in Central Texas
Dell Children's was the region's only provider; it closed the program Oct. 30.
4
Years the program operated
Dell Children's ran Hospice at Home for four years before closing it.
19
Age of patient Oli McLennan
She can move to Hospice Austin's adult program because of her age.

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People Involved

SM
Shannon McLennan
Parent and nurse advocating for at-home pediatric hospice
Says she was not given a transition plan for her daughter Oli; told the closure was tied to Medicaid certification.
OM
Oli McLennan
Patient receiving at-home hospice care
19; has intestinal failure and a gene deletion affecting her sight; can move to Hospice Austin's adult program.

Organizations Involved

Dell Children's Medical Center
Dell Children's Medical Center
Pediatric hospital
Closed its Hospice at Home program on Oct. 30 and moved care to its Comprehensive Care Clinic.

Austin pediatric hospital that closed its in-home hospice program and moved care to an outpatient clinic.
HA
Hospice Austin
Adult hospice provider
Offers an adult hospice program that Oli McLennan can join because she is 19.

Austin hospice provider with an adult program.

Timeline

2 events Latest: October 31st, 2026 · 1 week ago

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

    Latest Statement

    Hospital announced the at-home hospice program would move to its Comprehensive Care Clinic, with daily phone check-ins and individualized transition plans.

  2. Dell Children's closes Hospice at Home program

    Closure

    The hospital ends its four-year-old in-home pediatric hospice service and moves care to its Comprehensive Care Clinic.

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

Dell Children's closed the at-home program on Oct. 30 and moved care to its Comprehensive Care Clinic. Families are being routed to the 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

The hospital closed the program on Oct. 30 despite family concerns. A reversal would mean reopening the at-home service.

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.

4

Another Central Texas provider starts in-home pediatric hospice

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Families and local reporting

Dell Children's closure left Central Texas without an in-home pediatric hospice provider. Another hospice or health system could start one, but no provider has announced plans in the reporting reviewed.

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

(5)
KVUE Public Coverage Prime Newz Now Hot Wire Digest Best Local Media Station