Better Patient Outcomes with Female Internists?

By Kelly Young

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Female internists have lower rates of patient mortality and readmissions than their male counterparts, according to an observational study in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Using a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries, researchers looked at patient outcomes among 58,000 general internists who treated hospitalized patients. After multivariable adjustment, patients who were cared for by female physicians had significantly — albeit slightly — lower 30-day mortality rates than those cared for by male physicians (11.07% vs. 11.49%). In addition, 30-day readmission rates were lower for female physicians (15.02% vs. 15.57%). Outcomes did not vary by type or severity of illness.

Editorialists note that past studies have found that women are more likely to provide patient-centered care.