Annals of Medicine Research and Public Health (ISSN: 2995-5955) | Volume 3, Issue 2 | Research Article | Open Access DOI
Joerg Albrecht*
Apoorva Mehta BS1, Sriram Palepu BBA2, Nicholas K Mollanazar3, Harrison P Nguyen4, Joerg Albrech5,6*
1Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
2University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
3Department of Dermatology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
4Departments of Clinical Sciences, Health Systems, and Population Health Sciences, University of Houston College of Medicine, Houston, TX
5Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Cook County Health, Chicago, IL
6Department of Medicine, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL
*Correspondence to: Joerg Albrecht
Fulltext PDFThe 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.
Healthcare, Complexity, Literacy, Prior authorization, Billing, Formularies
Apoorva Mehta BS, Sriram Palepu BBA, Nicholas K Mollanazar, Harrison P Nguyen, Joerg Albrech. Complexity as a Problem in Healthcare. Ann Med Res Pub Health. 2024;3(2):1-12.