Define the baseline and comparison
Choose the population, facilities, baseline period, and exclusions before launch. Document staffing, case mix, transport availability, and other changes that could influence results. Compare like cases where possible and report small samples plainly.
Measure access and use
Track eligible encounters, consultation requests, completed consultations, response time, unanswered requests, and reasons for using the service. Define response time consistently, such as request timestamp to first live physician contact. Show both the denominator and the distribution, not only an average.
Evaluate disposition and transfer quality
Record local discharge, local admission, and transfer with the clinical rationale. For transferred patients, distinguish decision-to-acceptance, acceptance-to-departure, and total door-in–door-out time. A faster necessary transfer can be a successful result.
Do not label a transfer unnecessary solely because the patient was discharged at the receiving ED. Review the information and resources available when the original decision was made. Count potentially avoidable transfers only under a defined clinical review process.
Pair efficiency with safety and experience
Use a locally approved follow-up window to examine returns, escalation after local retention, delays, and adverse events. Define access to follow-up data and acknowledge missing outcomes. Gather clinician feedback on usefulness, ease of activation, and whether recommendations fit local capabilities.
Review economics without overstating causation
Track actual program costs, utilization, and operational effects alongside safety measures. Separate observed changes from modeled savings. Present findings as pilot results influenced by local conditions, not proof that consultation alone caused every change. Assign regular review to hospital clinical leadership.
Your next steps
- Name an owner and data source for every measure.
- Use denominators and define time intervals consistently.
- Review safety alongside any transfer reduction.
- Set a joint review schedule and criteria for improvement.
Make it your own
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Editable measurement plan (.txt)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.