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In a groundbreaking study, researchers have uncovered that patients experience lower mortality and readmission rates when treated by female doctors. Intriguingly, the benefits of receiving care from female physicians were found to be larger for female patients than for male patients.
A research team led by Dr. Atsushi Miyawaki, Anupam B. Jena, MD, and Yusuke Tsugawa, MD, has been delving into 2016-2019 Medicare claims data. The specific focus has been on a 20% random sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized with medical conditions and treated by hospitalists.
The study showed that both female and male patients had a lower mortality rate when treated by female doctors. However, female patients had a significantly higher advantage from the care of female physicians compared to male patients.
This research could have far-reaching implications for the way healthcare provision is approached, particularly for older populations. However, it was noted that the findings may not be applicable to younger generations.
The research showed that out of 458,108 female and 318,819 male patients, 31.1% of females and 30.6% of males were treated by female physicians. The study found a marked difference in mortality and readmission rates based on physician gender.
Previous studies have reported similar findings. A 2017 study found lower 30-day mortality and readmission rates for Medicare patients treated by female physicians. And from a different angle, a 2020 study showed improved postoperative outcomes with increasing surgeon age.
Altogether, these studies have provided greater insight into the impact of physician characteristics on patient outcomes. The findings signal the need for further exploration and consideration in the healthcare sector.
Information Box:
– Multiple studies suggest lower patient mortality when treated by female doctors.
– This benefit is larger for female patients.
– These findings are based mainly on data from older populations.
– Increasing surgeon age is also associated with improved outcomes.
Reference 1: “Comparison of Hospital Mortality and Readmission Rates by Physician and Patient Sex”, Miyawaki, A., Jena, A.B., Rotenstein, L.S., Tsugawa, Y., Annals of Internal Medicine
Reference 2: “Comparison of Hospital Mortality and Readmission Rates for Medicare Patients Treated by Male vs Female Physicians”, Tsugawa, J., Jena, A.B., Figueroa, J.F., Orav, J.E., Blumenthal, D.M., Jha, A.K., JAMA Intern Med