Poor quality, outrageous costs, and a nursing shortage are symptoms of deeper underlying inefficiencies in the system. Yet, even when innovations come along to improve efficiency, they are not always implemented. For example, traditionally, patient records have been created on paper, requiring large physical storage spaces and delaying access to efficient medical care (Boonstra & Broekhuis, 2010). Boonstra and Broekhuis (2010) stated, “Despite the positive effects of EMR usage in medical practices, the adoption rate of such system is still low and meets resistance from physicians” (p. 231). They cite organizational leader- ship and change processes as two barriers to electronic medical record (EMR) implementation. Why is there resistance to proven solutions when the role of management is to ensure proven solutions are implemented? According to Uhl-Bien and Marion (2008), traditional leaders and managers are trained in applying known solutions to known problems, yet resistance is still high even when evidence supports that a known solution has a positive impact on patient care, such as the EMR. This example of the lag in EMR implementation is just one of many examples that demonstrate a disconnection between traditional leadership models and the ability to adequately deal with current healthcare complexities. The following article will discuss traditional lead- ership models in health care and the effects of oper- ating under traditional assumptions. The contrasting option of complexity leadership will be introduced and connected to improved outcomes in health care.