Select a Female Doctor, Given the Choice?

Julie Wernau in an article in the August 31, 2023, WSJ titled “Female Surgeons Achieve Better Results Than Male Counterparts” states “…the differences aren’t about technical skill, but about listening to patients and choosing appropriate care.” While this study was based on surgeons, we can postulate that it applies across a broader spectrum of health care in general. At the end of this blog, I’ve included a summary of the article provided by Poe for your edification.

Medicine is by far NOT the only area where it has been postulated that women’s involvement “improves the breed.” Numerous studies have found that Women on boards can have a significant impact on firm performance. They can improve managerial duties through their preparation of meetings, different viewpoints, and leadership skills. Women on boards can also improve companies’ strategic decision-making, leading them to consider a wider range of options. While in an academic position at Purdue University, my own research found that increasing the number of women in senior positions in a company, called the C-Suite, improved the happiness rating of the firm as captured by employee turnover. More women on boards, less turnover. (Turnover is employees leaving the company for their own reasons.)

I am blessed to have as my Nephrologist a female doctor named Dr. Taryn Turner, DO. She is the embodiment of the findings for surgeons cited above and summarized below. Her online Google evaluation – of 76 respondents is a perfect 5.0 out of 5.0. Comments include “Dr Turner is kind, professional, competent and cares about her patients. She is a very good communicator and takes the time to listen to her patients and their concerns.” And on and on of the same ilk.

The bottom line of this blog is, at least if all else is equal, strongly consider a female doctor for your dialysis treatment. My experience is you will be well cared for with empathy and understanding. Odds are, more so with a female nephrologist.

The following is a Poe AI summary of the WSJ article:

Two research studies published in JAMA Surgery have found that female surgeons spend more time in the operating room and their patients experience fewer postoperative complications compared to patients treated by male surgeons. The first study followed 1.2 million Canadian patients undergoing common surgeries between 2007 and 2020. It found that patients treated by female surgeons were less likely to experience adverse postoperative issues, including death, at both 90 days and one year after surgery. Even after accounting for various factors that could affect surgical outcomes, such as patient age, surgeon experience, and hospital setting, the results remained consistent. The study also revealed that when male surgeons treated female patients, outcomes were slightly worse. The second study analyzed over 100,000 Swedish patients who had undergone gallbladder removal surgery. Female surgeons had longer operation times but their patients had shorter hospital stays and less invasive surgeries. Male surgeons spent less time per operation and experienced complications more frequently. These findings add to the existing body of literature that suggests better outcomes for patients treated by female doctors. It is important for hospital systems to examine their own data and practices to understand the underlying factors contributing to these differences. However, the studies emphasize that gender should not be the sole basis for choosing a physician. The field of surgery is still predominantly male-dominated, and efforts are being made to encourage more women to enter the profession.