Small Town, Big Impact

by Tara Crawford

Alumna Angela Occidental brings evidence-based practice to rural Ohio

Angela Occidental, DNP, FNP-C, (’22 DNP) has been a registered nurse for 22 years and has been working as a nurse practitioner for the past seven years. She is currently a primary care provider at James H. Duncan, DO, Inc., a family practice located in West Portsmouth, Ohio.

“Residents of Appalachia have numerous health disparities that impact healthcare. In this region there are higher rates of chronic disease, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and pulmonary disease,” Occidental said. She believes that using evidence-based practices can help improve healthcare outcomes for this population. 

Occidental has lived in Appalachian Ohio for most of her life, so she understands the challenges to maintain healthy lifestyles, as well as how cultural norms affect healthcare decisions. She has seen how the consequences of poor lifestyle choices and unmanaged chronic conditions have impacted health outcomes. Because of this, she tries to educate her patients on the importance of preventive care and health maintenance. “Sadly, many people do not realize how important it is to take care of their health before they experience devastating health consequences,” she said. 

Occidental recognizes the importance of integrating evidence-based practice into patient care to help improve patient lives. Providing evidence-based healthcare, she said, leads to improved outcomes, decreased costs and enhanced quality of life for many patients. As a postdoctoral Fellow at the College of Nursing’s Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare, she is using evidence-based best practices to develop diabetes education materials that will be tailored to Appalachian culture. 

“People cannot correct behaviors if they do not realize that change is needed,” she explained. “Developing understandable educational material is essential for positive outcomes.” 

As a healthcare provider, she strives to empower her patients to learn how they can improve their health, while recognizing that modifying unhealthy behavior patterns is difficult. “I want people to feel encouraged rather than judged,” Occidental said. This approach to healthcare has benefits for her, as well: “It is gratifying to see someone realize that they have the power to transform their life.”