Evaluation of Access to Female Cardiothoracic Surgeons by Geographical Region
Presented During:
Saturday, May 6, 2023: 10:45AM - 11:00AM
Los Angeles Convention Center
Posted Room Name:
406AB
Abstract No:
30
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Kortney Robinson (1), Elizabeth Carlson (1), Ingrid Hsiung (2), Jasjit Banwait (3), Sarah Hale (4), Hazifa Khan (2), Kelley Hutcheson (1)
Institutions:
(1) Baylor Scott White Heart Hospital Plano, Plano, TX, (2) BSWH, Plano, TX, (3) Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, (4) BSWH Research Institute, Plano, TX
Submitting Author:
Kortney Robinson
-
Contact Me
Baylor Scott White Heart Hospital Plano
Baylor Scott White Heart Hospital Plano
Co-Author(s):
Elizabeth Carlson
-
Contact Me
Baylor Scott White Heart Hospital Plano
Baylor Scott White Heart Hospital Plano
Ingrid Hsiung
-
Contact Me
BSWH
BSWH
Jasjit Banwait
-
Contact Me
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
Sarah Hale
-
Contact Me
BSWH Research Institute
BSWH Research Institute
Hazifa Khan
-
Contact Me
BSWH
BSWH
Kelley Hutcheson
-
Contact Me
Baylor Scott White Heart Hospital Plano
Baylor Scott White Heart Hospital Plano
Presenting Author:
Elizabeth Carlson
-
Contact Me
N/A
N/A
Abstract:
Objective: Recent data suggests that female patients may have better outcomes from cardiothoracic (CT) surgical intervention when under the care of female surgeons. An increasing number of women pursue medical training, but it is not clear if that is translating into an increased number and access to female cardiothoracic surgeons. Our purpose was to assess recent trends in access by geographical region.
Methods: We accessed the Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Database from 2013 to 2019 and generated a list of cardiothoracic surgeons submitting to that database. Data was extracted for 88 CPT codes for major aortic, valve, and revascularization procedures. These data were used to compare cases by gender of the surgeon across the United States.
Results: 2435 CT surgeons were identified in the database. From 2013 to 2019, the percentage of female surgeons reporting in all categories rose from 64/2076 (3.08%) to 122/2435 (5.01%). Cochran-Armitage Trend test showed a statistically significant increase in the proportion of female surgeons over time (p < 0.0001). Volumes in non-CABG operations by female surgeons were minimal. In 2019, there were 107 female surgeons who performed CABGs in the database. The ten states with the greatest number of female surgeons performing CABG were California (12 surgeons), Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania (all 7), Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio (all 5) and Georgia, Missouri, and Texas (all 4). 14 states (28%) did not have a reported female CT surgeon in the Medicare database. Figure 1 is a representation of the number of female cardiac surgeons by state.
Conclusions: Review of Medicare Provider Utilization Database indicates that female CT surgeons are still a significant minority of the total available providers in cardiothoracic care. This suggests a potential care gap for female patients considering recent data suggesting female patients have improved outcomes when under the care of female providers. Hearteningly, the data indicate slow but steady growth in the proportion of female cardiothoracic surgeons. There is pronounced regional variation in the availability of female providers favoring the Northeast and Western regions of the US. This may reflect differences in regional recruitment, reimbursement, or reporting that could be additional avenues of study to determine if there are modifiable factors that could improve access to female surgeons. There continues to be a large gender disparity in CT care
Methods: We accessed the Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Database from 2013 to 2019 and generated a list of cardiothoracic surgeons submitting to that database. Data was extracted for 88 CPT codes for major aortic, valve, and revascularization procedures. These data were used to compare cases by gender of the surgeon across the United States.
Results: 2435 CT surgeons were identified in the database. From 2013 to 2019, the percentage of female surgeons reporting in all categories rose from 64/2076 (3.08%) to 122/2435 (5.01%). Cochran-Armitage Trend test showed a statistically significant increase in the proportion of female surgeons over time (p < 0.0001). Volumes in non-CABG operations by female surgeons were minimal. In 2019, there were 107 female surgeons who performed CABGs in the database. The ten states with the greatest number of female surgeons performing CABG were California (12 surgeons), Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania (all 7), Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio (all 5) and Georgia, Missouri, and Texas (all 4). 14 states (28%) did not have a reported female CT surgeon in the Medicare database. Figure 1 is a representation of the number of female cardiac surgeons by state.
Conclusions: Review of Medicare Provider Utilization Database indicates that female CT surgeons are still a significant minority of the total available providers in cardiothoracic care. This suggests a potential care gap for female patients considering recent data suggesting female patients have improved outcomes when under the care of female providers. Hearteningly, the data indicate slow but steady growth in the proportion of female cardiothoracic surgeons. There is pronounced regional variation in the availability of female providers favoring the Northeast and Western regions of the US. This may reflect differences in regional recruitment, reimbursement, or reporting that could be additional avenues of study to determine if there are modifiable factors that could improve access to female surgeons. There continues to be a large gender disparity in CT care
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION:
Recruitment and Retention
Image or Table
