February 3rd marks National Women Physicians Day, with more females entering the medical field and taking on leadership positions as healthcare continues to evolve.
Here are six things to know about the female physician workforce:
1. The Association of American Medical Colleges found females comprised 32 percent of the physician workforce in 2013.
2. In 2013, 47 percent of medical school enrollees were female, almost equal to men at 53 percent.
3. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found patients treated by female physicals yielded better outcomes than patients treated by male physicians. After examining 30-day mortality and readmission rates, the researchers found patients treated by female physicians had a 30-day mortality rate of 11.07 percent to 11.49 percent; they also had a lower 30-day readmission rate of 15.02 percent to 15.57 percent.
4. The researchers estimated, "approximately 32,000 fewer patients would die if male physicians could achieve the same outcomes as female physicians every year."
5. Female physicians earn $192,000, on average, annually in primary care. Their male counterparts make an average annual salary of $225,000.
6. On average, female specialists rake in $242,000 while make specialists have an average annual salary hitting $324,000, according to the "Medscape Female Physicians Compensating Report 2016."