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Female Physicians May Provide Better Care Than Their Male Counterparts

A study found elderly patients treated by women had lower mortality rates than those treated by men.
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 Female doctors might be saving more lives than their male counterparts.

But they get paid about 8 percent less.

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Harvard researchers estimated 32,000 fewer Medicare patients would die each year if male doctors could achieve the same outcomes as female doctors.

The study compared more than a million hospital visits of elderly Medicare patients. 

It showed patients treated by women had lower mortality rates and a lower risk of being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. 

So what explains this disparity in care? 

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According to the researchers, "Female physicians are more likely to practice evidence-based medicine, perform as well or better on standardized examinations and provide more patient-centered care."

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