Healthcare Scalability

A major challenge in our healthcare system is its inability to scale efficiently in times of crisis. This is a direct consequence of a structure controlled by unions and medical colleges, whose model prioritizes bringing more responsibilities under their jurisdiction and then securing the funding to support those expanded roles. While this approach may serve institutional interests, it fails to create a system that can respond flexibly and cost-effectively to increased demand.

Scalability requires a workforce that can be expanded rapidly when needed. If the majority of hospital roles require a two- or four-year degree, the system becomes rigid—unable to increase capacity in a timely fashion during a health emergency. A true scalable system would ensure that at least some portion of healthcare roles could be trained in a short enough timeframe to provide immediate assistance. Even a two-year diploma is too long when surge capacity is required.

Contrast this with task decomposition, an approach that breaks down the responsibilities of highly trained professionals and identifies what only they must do while delegating other tasks to appropriately trained personnel. While nurses currently perform a broad range of duties, many of these could be reassigned to individuals trained in three months or less. In the event of a crisis, this model would allow the system to immediately reallocate tasks—freeing up skilled professionals for critical work while expanding the available workforce with efficiently trained support personnel.

This is what true scalability looks like: a system that adapts to demand, rather than one that simply demands more funding. By implementing task decomposition and rethinking role structures, we can create a healthcare system that is both cost-effective and responsive to real-world challenges.