Editor's letter: Making it Better

The December issue of HealthLeaders is always one of my favorites. I can think of no better way to sum up the year than in our annual cover story, "20 People Who Make Healthcare Better."

After many months of reform debate, and hearing all the ways the healthcare industry is broken, I find it somewhat cathartic to reflect on the best thing the health system has to offer—the inspiring, motivated, and energetic people who work every day to improve the lives of others. This year's cover story features an inventor, a physician-journalist, a patient-centered care advocate, grieving parents who haven't lost hope, transformative CEOs, and many others.

This year is different, however. Realizing that the space dedicated to a cover story couldn't possibly bring to life the works of the HealthLeaders 20, we have greatly expanded each of these stories online. At www.healthleadersmedia.com/20people/ you can read long-form versions of the stories found in HealthLeaders magazine, and you can also listen to audio interviews with the HealthLeaders 20.

I'm sure you'll find the stories of these change agents inspirational; I sure did. The irony is not lost on me that in the same issue that features the HealthLeaders 20, Senior Editor Philip Betbeze tells the tale Wayne Sensor's fall as CEO of Alegent Health. The contrast is striking between our HealthLeaders 20's achievements and Alegent's leadership turmoil.

In the divergence of these two articles there is a lesson for health leaders about the power of enlisting salient stakeholders to help shape the healthcare experience and, in the end, make it better.

Rick Johnson
Editorial Director
rjohnson@HealthLeadersMedia.com