While women play a large role in the healthcare workforce, they are missing from hospital leadership positions, according to a report from Oliver Wyman, an international management consulting firm.
For the report, researchers identified and developed profiles of more than 3,000 C-suite executives and board members across 134 payers and providers and analyzed the career paths of 112 payer and provider CEOs. They also interviewed more than 75 men and women in healthcare — from directors to CEOs — about the dynamics women face in the industry.
Five findings:
1. Women consumers make 80 percent of buying and usage decisions in healthcare and represent 65 percent of the industry workforce.
2. While women have influence in healthcare, researchers found they only represent 25 percent to 35 percent of industry C-suite teams and 13 percent of industry CEOs.
3. Researchers said they found it is more difficult for women to achieve the same level of implicit trust in male-dominated workplaces.
"The closer you get to the top, the less diversity exists and the more dominant male perceptions and associated biases become," they concluded. "This may explain why when women do make it to roles reporting to the CEO, they tend to serve as technical experts [such as chief human resources officer, chief legal officer, CIO] where technical expertise supersedes intangible qualities."
4. It also takes women longer to become healthcare CEOs, according to the report. On average, it takes women three to five years longer than men to reach CEO, depending on the organization.
5. Researchers found 86 percent of payer and provider CEOs had prior profit-and-loss experience, but men are three times more likely to take on P&L positions.
Access the full report findings here.
More articles on healthcare leadership:
Private sector, HHS discuss how to facilitate healthcare investment
Democratic presidential hopefuls rally around drug costs: 4 things to know
Healthcare leaders on communicating effectively with other C-suite executives