Complexity as a Problem in Healthcare

The American healthcare system is complex. It has multilayered federal, state, and private regulations which have to be handled by its stakeholders. The paper aims to introduce the idea that complexity in itself can be a problem that needs to be recognized, and that complexity cannot be infinitely increased without causing harm. This paper examines the perspectives of patients, lawmakers, physicians, and hospitals. It introduces the issue of complexity based on examples that highlight how each group at times falls short to implement, understand, or manage the system's complex rules and structure. The human body is complex, and medicine needs to be individualized, so the solution to complexity is not simplicity, but the understanding that many rules and solutions that may solve one problem may make the whole system less adaptable and efficient. Thus, to improve access and outcomes, the complexity of healthcare systems must be managed.