Research by Dr. Angela Herman, Health Sciences Program Chair, shows that access to health care for people who live in remote areas can be literally a phone call away.

Dr. Herman, who has a strong background in clinical research, conducted a study in Elkton, Maryland, the home of Union Hospital, as to how patients would like to use technology in communicating with health care providers.

“Patient-centered care means asking patients what it important to them,” she said.

Dr. Herman determined that patients prefer using their mobile phones over laptops or tablet devices. Patients who are highly engaged in their care are most willing to share information over the phone, as well as send pictures of rashes and bruises to help health care providers to diagnose problems.

“It’s a supplement for patients who can’t travel or take time off from work,” she said. “Telehealth and novel ways to interact with patients is the wave of the future.”

Her DNP project on the usefulness of Bringing Your Own Device technology to gain insight for patient engagement in a rural health setting was presented in September at the Doctors of Nursing Practice Conference in Palm Springs, California. It also has been accepted as an abstract for the Rapid Fire Podium event at the 13th Annual Nursing Research Conference to be held at Christiana Hospital in November.