Improving Women’s Health: How Providers Can Help Bridge The Healthcare Gender Gap

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Top Story: Improving Women’s Health: Bridging The Healthcare Gender Gap

A new 2024 study shows that while women typically live an average of five years longer than men, they also endure 25% more time in poor health. The analysis from the McKinsey Health Institute, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, reveals that this issue stems from centuries of being overlooked in healthcare. Women today face longer times to diagnosis, longer wait times for pain relief, more specialist shortages, a higher healthcare financial burden, and ultimately worse health outcomes compared to their male counterparts.

Closing the women’s health disparity could enhance the quality of life for women and their children, lead to fewer early deaths, and boost the US economy by an astonishing 293.5 billion USD. Moreover, bridging this gap ultimately improves the health and prosperity of future generations.

As such, the healthcare industry plays a crucial role in improving female health (with significant financial incentives for health systems and organizations). Let’s take a look at how healthcare organizations can contribute to narrowing the gender gap and make a substantial impact on women’s lives.

Personalized and Women-Centered Outreach

One of the primary reasons women endure more time in poor health is their tendency to seek preventive care less frequently, thus often searching for care when their symptoms have already advanced. The good news is that healthcare providers can find simple ways to reach women directly and guide them toward care when they need it.

First, it's important to send women personalized messages that encourage them to book or attend regular health check-ups. It’s key to address women directly in messages, especially when it comes to annual blood draws, gynecological exams, or preventive cancer screenings. Referring to public events such as Mother's Day or Women's Month or highlighting new or updated women-specific health recommendations in your messaging, will get you greater attention from your female patients, and also help emphasize the importance of these subject matters.

Another effective strategy to draw more female patients to your practice is to offer question-and-answer sessions focused on specific topics, particularly those related to gender differences. Women often have specific questions that may not be relevant to the general population, and they tend to be more cautious when it comes to engaging with healthcare providers. 

Integrating round-the-clock communication and self-service tools on websites and social media empowers women to take control of their health and overcome potential barriers created by complicated or lengthy processes.

Finally, tailoring your messaging to women post-appointment can lead to improved health outcomes and reduce unnecessary readmissions. Today's digital tools help you communicate with patients remotely, allowing for targeted approaches to boost women's confidence in the healthcare system. These tools can be used to check on symptoms, support medication adherence, or assist with follow-up appointment scheduling.

Greater Access Structures to Healthcare for Women

Another significant factor contributing to health inequities is access to healthcare, which is often more challenging for women who are primarily responsible for household management and family caretaking. Women may have less time, fewer financial resources, limited transportation, or childcare responsibilities that conflict with medical appointments.

Offering flexibility such as telemedicine and digital health can be highly effective in addressing these issues. These solutions allow women caring for children to access medical help from home and reduce travel costs. 

Additionally, offering flexibility with in-person appointments, such as reserving specific times exclusively for women, can help minimize wait times and improve access to care for women when needed. 

Lastly, women often endure long wait times at the emergency room. Tools that allow scheduling ER appointments from home can be immensely beneficial, allowing women to wait in the comfort of their homes and continue fulfilling their caregiving responsibilities until their appointments.

Educational Resources and Empower Female Decision-Making 

Women generally respond differently to many therapies, medications, and diseases. For example, conditions such as autism, autoimmune disorders, and even cancer often manifest with diverging symptoms in women compared to men. A lack of awareness regarding these differences can lead to misunderstandings or prejudices about self-care, ultimately impacting women's health and their ability to make informed health choices.

Addressing the educational gap is, therefore, crucial. An important part of this step is empowering patients with the language and confidence to ask questions about their diagnoses or treatments.

Personalized health education on websites and social media can help women address their concerns and find relevant resources. Incorporating tailored advice and information about areas like gynecology, obstetrics, psychiatry, nutrition, and physical activity, allows you to establish trust among the female population. This, in turn, encourages them to seek care from your healthcare service.

Furthermore, many women might prefer female healthcare providers. An integrated physician directory that offers detailed information on doctors and, ideally, direct appointment scheduling options, can help them make more informed healthcare decisions.

Working Toward a More Equal US Healthcare System for Women

There’s an urgent need to revamp our healthcare delivery to support women in leading healthier lives. Despite existing obstacles, opportunities such as the digital revolution have the ability to significantly enhance the healthcare landscape. Many previously unaddressed issues can now be directly tackled. As the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights, "women can gain more control over their health by utilizing digital technologies," making this a crucial strategy for healthcare providers aiming to enhance equality.

By harnessing digital technologies to provide easy access to information, support, and healthcare services securely and confidentially, healthcare providers can empower women to take greater control over their health and well-being. This approach guides women to make better and more informed health decisions. 

Learn more on how to use technologies for improved patient care on steerhealth.io.