Female Physicians have Better Patient Outcomes earn less but than Male Physicians
A new study shows that patients experienced better health outcomes and had reduced readmission rates if they were treated by a female physician.
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Medical billing companies provide effective revenue cycle management services for physicians from all specialties, allowing them to focus on providing quality care. A recent US study examined data relating to the care received by hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries and suggests that there could be potential differences in practice patterns between male and female physicians. The researchers found that while female physicians earn less than their male counterparts, patients may be better off if they are treated by a female doctor. The number of women in the medical profession is growing steadily in the US, and in certain specialties they form the majority. According to a 2015 Wall Street Journal Report, more than 60% of pediatricians and more than 51% of obstetricians/gynecologists are women, and women comprise nearly one-third of all practicing physicians. The study, which was published in Jama Internal Medicine, was based on an analysis of elderly Medicare patient hospitalizations between 2011 and 2014. The patients were treated by general internists. The Harvard Medical School researchers found that, for all the medical conditions they examined, patients treated by female physicians had better outcomes. The main points that the study highlights are as follows:
Patients cared for female physicians have a 4 per cent lower mortality rate and 5 per cent reduction in readmission rates than those treated by male physicians
About “32,000 fewer patients would die if male physicians could achieve the same outcomes as female physicians” each year
Men and women may differ in the way they practice medicine
Female physicians in the US earn around 8 per cent less than their male counterparts
This is the first time that a study looked into how the differences in the level of care provided by male and female doctors reflect on patient outcomes. Earlier studies had already found that female physicians were more likely to provide preventive care, communicate effectively with patients, offer more counseling, and do as well, if not better, on standard examinations. The authors concluded that understanding the actual reasons for these differences in care quality and practice patterns could provide valuable information to improve quality of care for all patients – regardless of who provides the care. This study also drew comments from the editorial authors -- physicians from the University of California, SF -- on the pay disparities between male internists and female internists.
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They pointed out that given that the healthcare system is increasingly focused on pay for performance, the gender pay gap in medicine could be reduced by rewarding services that produced better patient outcomes. They recommend the creation of systems that “promote equity in start-up packages, career advancement, and remuneration for all physicians�. As an experienced healthcare BPO company, we keep track of the trends that are shaping the healthcare value chain. While physicians strive to handle the challenges of patient care, we leverage our expertise to help them stay financially relevant with quality medical billing and coding services.
www.outsourcestrategies.com
Phone: 1-800-670-2809