The Austin health care landscape is shifting to increase specialized care for pediatric patients as community needs grow.
Previously, children and families had to travel outside of the region to seek treatment in the ’80s and ’90s, said Deb Brown, chief operating officer at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Similarly, patients within the Texas Children’s Hospital network had to travel to Houston before its North Austin campus opened in 2024.
“We want to fully engage the community to … care for their children, and to care for them here,” Brown said.
Now, leaders at Austin’s pediatric medical facilities are sharing the importance and unique aspects of pediatric care.
What’s different?
Facilities specializing in pediatric medical care are intentionally designed to help ease patient anxiety and provide specialized training for medical professionals, said Dr. Edward Buchanan, chief medical officer of Texas Children’s Austin Campus.
Specific differentiations between pediatric and non-pediatric medical facilities include:
Team and equipment: Patients have a team equipped with surgeons, physicians, specialists, dieticians and social workers to support the patient in all avenues.Social support: In addition to medical support, children and families are also paired with a child life specialist to help explain the diagnosis and treatment process to all impacted. Texas Children’s also has an on-site Ronald McDonald House to support families.Child-centric environment: Facilities offer age-specific infrastructure, playrooms, toys and activities to aid in healing and help comfort patients and families.Specialized programs: Dell Children’s offers over 40 specialty and sub-specialty programs to care for children with congenital anomalies. Texas Children’s specializes in multidisciplinary care, with a neuroscience division, orthopedic and sports medicine departments and more.Who it’s for
Dell Children’s Medical Center is in the process of expanding services by upgrading the Fetal Care Center. A new physician, Dr. Alireza Shamshirsaz, is now seeing patients, with his partner, Dr. Oluseyi Ogunleye, starting in July.
“[Moms] can deliver here at Dell Children’s and then their babies can be cared for here at Dell Children’s, keeping mom, baby and family in one location to … meet the needs of all of their care right in one place,” Brown said.
In other news
Additionally, Texas Children’s recently hired Dr. Tony Wen, medical director of maternal fetal medicine, who specializes in pregnancies with fetal and obstetrical complications, and Dr. Sheng-Pei Wang, a pediatric dermatologist.
Texas Children’s also opened a specialty clinic in Lakeway in January, offering maternal-fetal medicine, orthopedic and otolaryngology services, continuing to grow where patients are located.