Letter from the publisher

This year marks Modern Healthcare's 35th anniversary as the industry's leading source of healthcare business and policy news, research, opinion and information.

In 1976, when Crain Communications bought then-Modern Hospitals from McGraw-Hill, the publication was near the brink of collapse. The dominant player was an association publication, and it was extremely difficult for anyone to compete in the marketplace. Undeterred, our company took on the challenge. We recognized then that the healthcare industry deserved a timely, comprehensive and unbiased voice.

Since then, our country has gone through nine presidential elections, unprecedented natural disasters and an explosion in healthcare spending.

National expenditures on healthcare rose from $140 billion, or 8.6% of the gross domestic product, to more than $2.5 trillion, or 17% of GDP.

In that time, we've also grown from a monthly print magazine to a weekly print magazine; two websites; three daily electronic newsletters; a variety of mobile and digital products, including videos, webcasts and podcasts; breaking e-mail news alerts; six electronic show dailies from major industry conferences; educational and recognition programs and events; and exclusive market research.

It's all brought to you by our award-winning staff of editors and reporters, expertly covering the industry through a variety of platforms during one of the most tumultuous periods in history. We're right there with you on the front lines, helping you navigate through these exciting times.

Our readers trust and rely on Modern Healthcare for news, opinion and information, and vendors consider us the pre-eminent vehicle to reach those qualified and hard-to-reach healthcare decisionmakers. Today, 35 years later, Modern Healthcare's total market reach is well over 800,000 healthcare executives in all sectors of the industry.

Of course, we could not have done it without the support of our readers, advertisers and staff. Thank you all.

To celebrate this milestone, we're publishing this special edition. This issue not only looks back at some of the pivotal stories that made the covers of our magazine, it explores the current state of the industry in key markets across the country and looks to the future, with predictions and forecasts from leaders in the field.

As we celebrate our 35th anniversary, Modern Healthcare is stronger, more innovative and nimble than at any time in our history. We pledge, to you, our commitment to be the very best healthcare media organization we can be—today and tomorrow.

For more information on our anniversary, visit ModernHealthcare.com/35.

Thank you.