Taking Our Vital Signs: The Year in Review

The daily work of an internist varies: Diseases take different forms, and every patient is a distinct individual. The work of the medical journal editor—at least those of us who do it full time—is much more stereotyped. Every day has its repetitive tasks, and every week its rhythms. We take this occasion to look up from our routines to reflect on the journal's progress and to scan the horizon for storm clouds and for opportunity.

In an editorial that focuses on change, we begin by noting several signature Annals features: methodologically sound, original research articles that advance the content of internal medicine practice; high-quality clinical guidelines produced by the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force; rigorous systematic reviews and meta-analyses (including the new comparative effectiveness reviews commissioned by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality); articles about quality improvement in our Improving Patient Care section; and inspiring essays about the experiences of being a doctor or a patient. These signature features shape the personality of the journal. As we work to enhance the value of Annals, we build on …