A Retrospective Analysis of the Rural Female Family Physician in Idaho

As more women enter medical school it’s important to study changes over time to determine implications and impact of gender differences. The purpose of this study is to examine the changing rural female family physician in Idaho from 2007 to 2012. The 2007 Idaho Physician Rural Workforce Assessment was repeated in 2012 and retrospective analysis indicated differences between genders, divided into four areas: productivity, technology use, satisfaction and scope of practice. Female physicians work less, take less call practice hours and see more patients hourly. They utilize technology more although men used teleconferencing more in 2012. Satisfaction among females increased over time but overall satisfaction did not change from 2007 to 2012. Scope of practice factors for females changed from 2007 to 2012: less female emergency room and more operating room services provided. In 2012 females provided significantly more prenatal care services.