Why Women Doctors Are Better

[The White Coat Investor]

I thought this might start an interesting discussion (post title lifted from CNN front page link):

http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/22/opinions/female-doctors-could-lengthen-life-expectancy-caudle/index.html

Researchers analyzed data from over 1 million patients to see if 30-day mortality and hospital readmission rates differed between patients treated by male and female internal medicine physicians. The conclusion? Patients treated by female physicians had lower mortality and lower hospital readmission rates than patients treated by male physicians.

"************************ straight!" cheered others of my fellow female physicians from far and wide.

Not only does this study have potentially wide-reaching health implications, but it might also help push the needle for gender equality in medicine further. As a female family physician, I must admit that I felt empowered after reading the study. It felt good to see a study that recognized the work and efforts of female physicians and it makes me proud to see that female doctors provide great care. While this study argues that women make outstanding physicians (perhaps with better patient outcomes), it must also be said that men make outstanding physicians, too. Male and female physicians work together, and as the saying goes, "it takes a village."

Study researchers acknowledged that "literature has shown that female doctors may be more likely to adhere to clinical guidelines, provide preventive care more often, use more patient-centered communication, perform as well or better on standardized examinations, and provide more psychosocial counseling to their patients than do their male peers."

[Zaphod]

I thought classes/graduates were basically already 50/50?

[conniebird]

Zaphod wrote:

I thought classes/graduates were basically already 50/50?

Click to expand...

Yes but it's gonna take time for the actual work force to become 50/50. Academics prolly lagging even further behind. Except in my dept, 2 men vs 6 women.

 

 

[G]

Reminds me of predicting the stock market performance based upon who wins the Superbowl.

[SValleyMD]

Women docs I know are more thorough so perhaps that's true... imo

[G]

And I must admit, although I would let anyone in my group take care of me and my family, if I were forced to rank, the women in the group would bulk up the top of the list.

[Craigy]

Saw this headline awhile back.

My first thought was that they have healthier patient populations (peds, OB, derm vs cards, EM, ortho) but the study looks like they compared same fields.

Historically fewer women went to medschool, and the ones who did were usually particularly gifted or driven individuals who stood out.  Comparatively, there are/were a lot of dumb/average men who went through, though obviously still smart enough to eek by in medicine.  This should be equalizing these days.

Many female docs are a second income and are quicker to retire.  Perhaps those that really enjoy it/are good at it tend to stick around more than the others.

When I hear about bad doctors, MDs losing their license, etc. it seems that, more often than not, it's a man.  But there are still more male doctors in general.

When my wife would complain about an attending who "takes forever"  :lol: it would usually be a female.   It makes for a long day, and probably not the most efficient, but if I'm the patient I want the doc who spends her time.   

 

[DMFA]

It's the PMG revolution.

[Jenn]

I'm not on the forum much- just learned this women's section exists today!

When I first got online in doctors forums I was in the UK, on DNUK (Doctors Net UK) which I think preceded Sermo by some years. I posted about US perception that women doctors are better especially amongst women patients and was gobsmacked (British for astonished) to be attacked by a male doc demanding I retract that. He would have really exploded over this post and entries.

But to continue my perhaps prejudiced comments, I found British men much more anxious/neurotic and willing to express that to this female doc. (Maybe if I practiced in a nonrural, non military setting I would not think US men are less 'neurotic'.)

[Tangler]

Interesting; my wife and sister are great doctors. Some of the best doctors i know are female.

In fact there is one mentor who is the best i know of in my field, and i would love to be as good as she is.

However, the girl vs boy thing seems less important and less helpful than focusing on what all of us should do to add value.

The double standard has evolved. Imagine publishing an article that shows the opposite?

I ask the question: If an article showing the opposite would be considered sexist, how should we consider this one?

I know sexism exists and i don’t pretend to understand what my wife and sister deal with.

Does this type of article help prevent/ discourage discrimination against females?

I hope so, if not all it does is show sexism is a two way street.

[Lordosis]

Interesting; my wife and sister are great doctors. Some of the best doctors i know are female.

In fact there is one mentor who is the best i know of in my field, and i would love to be as good as she is.

However, the girl vs boy thing seems less important and less helpful than focusing on what all of us should do to add value.

The double standard has evolved. Imagine publishing an article that shows the opposite?

I ask the question: If an article showing the opposite would be considered sexist, how should we consider this one?

I know sexism exists and i don’t pretend to understand what my wife and sister deal with.

Does this type of article help prevent/ discourage discrimination against females?

I hope so, if not all it does is show sexism is a two way street.

Dude I agree with you but please put down the shovel!

[VentAlarm]

But somehow if the results went the other way it would be misogynistic. I think women make great doctors. I think men make great doctors. I hate things like this. They are essentially someone trying to use big data to make a statement. This isn’t actionable - what is the point? I think med schools are currently 50:50 or even with a slight female tilt. What are we supposed to do with this info? Stop accepting men into med school?

[burritos]

But somehow if the results went the other way it would be misogynistic. I think women make great doctors. I think men make great doctors. I hate things like this. They are essentially someone trying to use big data to make a statement. This isn’t actionable - what is the point? I think med schools are currently 50:50 or even with a slight female tilt. What are we supposed to do with this info? Stop accepting men into med school?

You could eliminate sex as an identifying factor in medical school/college applications and just accept players with the best applications.