Choose a problem the hospital recognizes
Begin with the bedside clinicians and leaders who will use and oversee the service. Identify the decisions that are hardest to support today, the consultation pathways already available, and the times or circumstances when a gap remains.
Write down the intended scope before choosing measures. For example, a pilot focused on earlier disposition discussions needs a different evaluation than one focused on consultation availability overnight. Agree on what is in scope, what is not, and what would justify changing the model.
Complete readiness work before the first patient call
Operational readiness includes clinical leadership, physician credentialing and privileges where needed, contact methods, documentation, information handling, escalation, and a shared review process. Responsibilities should be written and understood by both the local team and consultants.
Funding discussions should cover implementation, ongoing physician coverage, administration, and evaluation. A grant-funded start also needs a plan for what happens when initial funding ends. This guide does not imply a grant award, payer reimbursement, or a confirmed price for CrossCheck services.
Measure the pilot against its purpose
Select a manageable set of measures before launch and define how each will be collected. Potential measures include consultation use, time to response, the type of question discussed, disposition timing, and clinician experience. Transfer-related measures require context rather than a simple reduction target.
Baseline and follow-up comparisons may be influenced by staffing, patient mix, transport access, and other changes. Treat early findings as information for service design, not automatic proof of clinical or financial benefit. Agree in advance on a review point and the criteria for continuing, changing, or ending the pilot.
Bring to an introductory conversation
- A brief description of your hospital, staffing, and existing consultation options.
- The clinical or operational gap you want to address.
- The local leaders and frontline clinicians who should help design the pilot.
- Your proposed timeline, funding constraints, and definition of a useful result.
CrossCheck is developing pilot partnerships with rural Oklahoma hospitals. These guides describe the proposed model, not a guarantee of current coverage. Availability, response expectations, credentialing, and responsibilities must be confirmed before service begins.