In 2020, Texas Children’s Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics and Texas Children’s Autism Center merged to form the Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics and Autism because of their overlapping mission and patient population.
With this change, the former Autism Center became an Autism Clinic within the Meyer Center, similar to existing clinics within the Meyer Center focused on specific developmental conditions.
How did two competing centers come about in the first place?
The original Child Development Clinic was founded in 1960 and later renamed the Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics. It was established to diagnose infants, children and adolescents with the full range of developmental-behavioral issues, including autism spectrum disorders. This organizational structure delivered comprehensive patient services, a beneficial approach because children with autism often exhibit other developmental disabilities, such as language disorders, intellectual disabilities, hyperactivity and challenges with motor coordination.
The Meyer Center provides medical services for patients at increased risk due to other complications, as well as social work consultation to facilitate families’ access to educational, therapeutic and social services available in their local communities.
The Learning Support Center created a separate Autism Center in 1998. Since its inception, it functioned in parallel to the Meyer Center in diagnosing and serving patients with autism. This led to a number of challenges, both from an operational standpoint and in terms of patient experience.
“Combining the centers is a much-needed change. Not only has it reduced internal inefficiencies and duplicative efforts of clinicians and administrative staff, but it has also eliminated much confusion on the part of patients’ families and referring physicians about which center to use. Patient waitlists have been significantly shortened. Additionally, philanthropic efforts have become more focused,” said Robert Voigt, MD, director of the Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics and Autism.
For more information about the Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics and Autism, please visit www.texaschildrens.org/departments/developmental-pediatrics.