The Need for Better Representation of Female Physicians in the Healthcare Industry
The healthcare industry still leaves female physicians struggling more than their male counterparts. These issues begin with workplace discrimination and payment and promotion gaps to sexual harassment. While it is disappointing, you cannot deny the fact that only a small portion of female physicians become medical leaders despite equal numbers of both sexes graduating from medical school. In the US alone, only 3{1f5c9c1d32410a35bec40186e8c1a2470edfe81b206d04ccbc14fbb753aef7e4} of chief medical officers are women, 3{1f5c9c1d32410a35bec40186e8c1a2470edfe81b206d04ccbc14fbb753aef7e4} are healthcare CEOs, 6{1f5c9c1d32410a35bec40186e8c1a2470edfe81b206d04ccbc14fbb753aef7e4} are department chairs, and 9{1f5c9c1d32410a35bec40186e8c1a2470edfe81b206d04ccbc14fbb753aef7e4} are division chiefs. These numbers remain the same even if 80{1f5c9c1d32410a35bec40186e8c1a2470edfe81b206d04ccbc14fbb753aef7e4} of the entire healthcare workforce comprises women. Also, these numbers will not change despite evidence proving having women on corporate boards and in upper management linked with enhanced accountability and improved financial performance.
If you look at these numbers, you will learn that the healthcare system needs better female physician representation. The need for better representation of female physicians in the healthcare industry is yet to be realized with the many obstacles they deal with daily. Even so, there are increasing opportunities in healthcare to give female physicians a chance to gain leadership in the industry. There are areas that organizations should take careful note if they want to promote women in the industry.
For healthcare organizations to create more room for female physicians as leaders, they have to take a look at certain areas. To make progress, healthcare organizations should assess how poorly or well women represent their leadership. They can also benefit more when they understand workplace experience of female physicians and how it compares to those of their male counterparts. Quantification is an essential component to improving gender gaps in the healthcare setting. One such case is giving recognition to women and their commitment to higher education and research. Depending on how women meet the organization's requirements, their affiliated institutions may receive gold, silver, or bronze awards. Institutions that get a silver award or higher often receive health research funding. What you can see from these awards is the recognition of diversity and gender issues. You get both financial and numerical incentives for change and catalyzed cultural and structural changes. In short, there is now more career support for female researchers.
Unlike male physicians, female physicians find it challenging to bag major recognition and awards. This creates a clear association with their promotions. Systematization ensures that there is equal recognition for both male and female achievements. According to research, gender gaps in terms of recognition exist during the early stages of the female physician's career. You can help narrow these gender-biased gaps by offering systematic publicity and identification of their achievements. You can apply this concept in a broader sense. Systematizing appointment of physicians to committees, nomination for increased responsibility and leadership roles, and search processes are some other examples.