Why Clinicians Hold the Key to Fixing Health Care’s Complexity Problem

Creator(s)

Alejandro Quiroga, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
Thomas H. Lee

Document Type

Editorial

Publication Date

12-9-2025

Identifier

DOI: 10.1056/CAT.25.0310

Abstract

Some of the most daunting challenges facing health care today are complex (as opposed to complicated), and leadership approaches developed for merely complicated work (emphasizing measurement, efficiency, and standardized practices) have limited effectiveness. The decision-making processes honed by clinicians in medical school and residency, which emphasize teamwork, hypothesis-testing, and rapid adaptation, are better suited to complex problems than the processes typically taught in business and health administration programs, and organizations can benefit from harnessing their clinicians’ skills to address complex operational problems.

Journal Title

NEJM Catal Innov Care Deliv

Volume

7

Issue

1

Keywords

Disruption and innovation; Team-based care

Recommended Citation

Quiroga A, Lee TH. Why clinicians hold the key to fixing health care’s complexity problem. NEJM Catalyst. 2025;7(1). doi:10.1056/cat.25.0310