Photo Credit: Salim Hanzaz. The Soliant Health 2024 State of Healthcare Report has emerged, shedding light on significant issues faced by women in healthcare. This comprehensive report, which is based on an independent survey of over 2,000 US adults who received healthcare services in the last 2 years and an internal survey of more than 2,000 professionals in the Soliant network, highlights serious concerns such as misdiagnosis, access difficulties, and quality of care. It also identifies certain "safe havens" for women within the healthcare system.

Key Insights and Concerns

1. Misdiagnosis Rates

A significant 66% of women reported receiving a misdiagnosis in the past 2 years. This alarming statistic indicates a widespread problem within the healthcare system. Moreover, 63.5% of women identified "receiving a misdiagnosis" as a major concern when seeking care in 2024. Such misdiagnoses can have serious consequences for women's health, leading to delayed or incorrect treatment and potentially worsening their conditions.

2. Unsatisfactory Care

Of the patients who selected "receiving unsatisfactory or poor-quality care" as a concern for 2024, an astonishing 65.3% were women. This highlights the need for improved quality control and better training for healthcare providers to ensure that women receive the care they deserve. Women healthcare professionals themselves reported worsening job burnout and mental health issues as the largest problem they are facing in their work. This suggests that the healthcare environment may be contributing to their stress and well-being.

3. Screening Action Gap

A survey conducted by Gallup for Hologic involving 4,001 women revealed a concerning "Screening Action Gap" among US women. Despite recognizing the importance of health screenings, two in five women, or 43%, skip or delay them. This poses a significant risk for preventable health issues, especially for screenings related to certain cancers. These cancers collectively result in over 70,000 deaths among US women annually. The implications of this gap are far-reaching and demand immediate attention.

4. Lung Cancer Disparities

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States and globally. Research shows that biological sex plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis and the immune system's response to lung cancer. Factors such as occupational exposure and hormones explain part of the sex disparities in lung cancer incidence and prognosis. Additionally, sex differences in treatment tolerability and response have been observed. Finally, differences in screening protocols may influence the presentation and stage at which lung cancer is diagnosed in women, further impacting outcomes.Continuing to explore the experiences and perceptions of patients and clinicians on the frontlines is essential. By doing so, we can identify specific areas where improvements in women's healthcare are most needed and gain insights into potential solutions to close the gender healthcare gap. It is crucial that we address these issues to ensure the well-being and health of women across the country.