Systemic
Etymology
From “system,” via Greek “systema,” a whole made of many parts placed together. “Systemic” means pertaining to that whole. It is often confused with “systematic,” which means done methodically — a systemic problem is structural; a systematic search is thorough.
adjective · /sis-TEM-ik/
Belonging to or affecting a whole system rather than any single part of it.
What it names
Problems that live in the structure — faults that persist no matter who occupies the roles, because the system produces them.
Example
Blaming individual doctors misses a systemic problem: the schedule guarantees someone will be exhausted.
Related idea
A systemic issue is built into the structure; an incremental fix nibbles at the edges. Systemic problems usually resist incremental cures.