It started the way many good ideas do – not with a grand plan, but with a pattern.
Hospitals were talking. And at inReach Healthcare, we were listening.
“We kept hearing the same thing from small and midsized hospitals,” said Emily Spruill, Division President of inReach Live. “They’d say, ‘We’re grateful for our visiting ortho coverage, but what happens the rest of the time?’”
Emergency departments were stretched. A patient would come in with a fracture at 3 a.m., and the local team would be left trying to decide: transfer the patient, or treat without an orthopedic consult?
The risks were real. So were the delays, the stress, and the financial losses. What hospitals needed wasn’t another platform – they needed backup. Instantly. From someone who knew orthopedics.
That’s when the inReach team took the message to heart. And inReach Live was born.
Built to Solve One Specific Problem
inReach has worked with rural and regional hospitals for years, delivering high-quality orthopedic surgeons to communities that can’t always hire or retain full-time specialists.
But even with strong surgical partnerships in place, coverage gaps remained – especially overnight, on weekends, or during staff shortages.
“The more we listened, the more it became clear,” Emily said. “Hospitals weren’t asking for bells and whistles. They were asking for someone to be there when they needed help with an orthopedic patient.”
So the team designed something simple and effective:
inReach Live is a 24/7, real-time orthopedic consult service.
No platform to install. No equipment to buy. No obligation to use any other inReach service. Just a direct line to a board-certified orthopedic specialist – any time, any day.
“We built inReach Live to support the frontline teams,” Emily said. “The people doing the hard work – especially at smaller hospitals – deserve real-time support without having to jump through hoops.”
Who Is It For?
This isn’t just for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). InReach Live was designed for any hospital with limited orthopedic coverage, especially those with under 100 beds.
Whether you:
- Have a visiting orthopedic surgeon a few days a week
- Share coverage with another facility
- Or have no orthopedic presence at all
…inReach Live gives your ER team an expert they can rely on, immediately.
“Hospitals don’t have to be part of any existing inReach program,” Emily said. “This is a standalone service that can be added at any time.”
Why Now?
Healthcare leaders know the pressure is building. Medicaid changes are underway. Millions of patients are losing eligibility. ER volumes are rising. Transfer costs are going up. Staff fatigue is real.
“We’ve always had transfer pressure,” Emily said. “But now, every lost case is more than just a revenue hit – it’s a signal that care gaps are getting wider.”
Hospitals lose an estimated $15,000 to $30,000 per surgical transfer. But the cost is more than financial:
- Delayed care
- Longer transports
- Overwhelmed staff
- Frustrated patients
inReach Live helps stop the spiral – without requiring a huge investment or new system.
“This is a service that works with what hospitals already have,” Emily said. “No learning curve. No complicated onboarding. Just help when and where it’s needed.”
How It Works
- A patient presents in the ER with a possible fracture or musculoskeletal injury
- The staff calls or clicks to request a consult
- Within minutes, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon responds
- The consult may involve reviewing imaging, asking guided questions, and giving treatment advice or recommending transfer only when necessary
“Our goal isn’t to replace the ER team,” Emily said. “It’s to stand beside them and give them the confidence they need in high-stress moments.”
What Hospitals Are Saying
Feedback from early users has been encouraging – and emotional.
“One team told me it felt like having a safety net,” Emily shared. “They didn’t realize how much uncertainty they were carrying until it was gone.”
Other hospitals have reported:
- Fewer transfers
- Higher staff morale
- Better retention of surgical revenue
- Less second-guessing in the ER
“inReach Live doesn’t change how a hospital operates,” Emily said. “It supports what’s already working – and fills the gaps where risk lives.”
No Strings. Just Support.
InReach Live is available to any eligible hospital. There’s no requirement to be part of another inReach program, and no major tech lift involved.
“We’ll show you how it works. We’ll walk you through a few real examples,” Emily said. “And then you decide. If it helps your team, we’re here.”
Interested in Learning More?
If your hospital has ever struggled with after-hours orthopedic coverage – or had to transfer a case you’d rather have kept – this service was built for you.
Reach out directly to Emily. Ask questions. Bring your ER volume numbers. She’ll help you think through whether inReach Live fits your world and your hospital.
Emily Spruill, MBA, PMP
Division President, inReach Live
📧 Emilys@irhealthcare.com
🔗 www.irhealthcare.com/inreach-live
📱 P (904) 234-6365 | 🏢 O (720) 731-2445 | 📠 F (308) 646-0168
inReach is a physician-founded telehealth provider trusted by over 150 hospitals nationwide. We focus exclusively on clinical specialty coverage—ensuring hospitals maintain high-quality care, reduce transfers, and retain revenue they’d otherwise lose.
