Administrative simplicity: an important component of health care delivery

Administrative simplicity is an often overlooked but important component in optimizing health care delivery. The current administrative structures of most US (and international) academic medical centers have multiple, often independent parts that must negotiate and come to agreement on any new changes. Such negotiations can lead to compromised change and delayed implementations. A noncomplex administrative structure offers many advantages and can make it possible to be better at becoming better. In a simplified, integrated structure, strategic goals and cultural changes can be more easily executed across the organization. Such institutions are potentially better structured to achieve the alignment of values and priorities and to move forward once decisions are made. The authors encourage medical leaders to consider administrative simplicity when opportunities arise to reevaluate health care governance structures.