What is Failure? (Part 1)

At the end of the day, I go home and look in the mirror and ask myself, “Did I do the best I could do today?” If I can honestly answer yes, then no matter what happened, I feel like the day was a success. I cannot control the outcomes of so much of what happens. All I can do is the best I know how.

We tend to forget that in health care. Failure comes despite our best efforts. When I give talks, I often use a slide from the online humor news site, The Onion, that has the headline, “World Death Rate Holding Steady at 100%.”

If we define death as failure, then ultimately, in health care, we fail with every single patient we see. We instead need to be asking, “What is the goal? Did we achieve it?” Or at least, “Did we do the best we could to try to achieve it?”

To me, as a doctor, it is a bigger failure when someone doesn’t know what their options are. Or doesn’t think about rebuilding bridges or relationships. Or cannot say good-bye to their loved ones. Or apologize for wrongs. Or forgive. Or be forgiven. Or leave a legacy. I will continue this post in a few days with an example that I vividly recall from early in my career.

Last Updated: November 6, 2018

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About Author: Robert Sawicki, MD

Doctor Robert Sawicki photoDr. Robert Sawicki is the Vice President of Clinical Services for OSF Home Care and Post-Acute Services. He has led efforts to develop and improve care for patients with chronic illnesses and has a special interest in end-of-life care and hospice.

Dr. Sawicki received his medical degree from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, and completed his residency in family medicine in Rockford. He practiced family medicine in Bloomington, Illinois, for 20 years before moving into leadership roles with OSF Home Care Services.

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Categories: General, Palliative Care & Hospice