Study Links Physician Age to Patient Mortality Risk
Harvard Medical SchoolAt a glance: Hospitalized patients have a slightly higher risk of dying when treated by older hospitalists—internal medicine specialists who oversee the care of acutely ill hospitalized patients. Physician age made no difference in patient mortality rates for doctors who treated large numbers of patients. The results suggest the critical importance of continuing medical education throughout the span of a physician’s professional career. Age played no role in patient readmission rates but older physicians were slightly more likely to incur greater treatment costs.