Annals of Internal Medicine, the

A medical journal especially concerned with information in the field of internal medicine (adult medicine). Designed to be read largely by internists, the Annals states it is "is the leading journal for studies in internal medicine." (Such claims aside, the Annals is without question one of the leading journals in medicine today. It is widely read and well respected. —Editor.) Established in 1927 by the American College of Physicians (ACP), the Annals now serves as the official journal of the ACP and the American Society of Internal Medicine (ASIM). According to the Annals, "The purpose of the journal – to promote excellence in the clinical practice of internal medicine – is supported by presentation of a wide variety of experimental and clinical subject matter in the Article, Brief Communication, Update, and Review formats. And to support the belief that physicians should also be well-informed citizens of both the medical community and society at large, Annals offers background and discussion of issues that influence both physicians and patients. This information is primarily carried in the Perspective, In the Balance, and Editorial formats. In addition, the journal presents personal narratives in the On Being a Doctor and the On Being a Patient formats that convey the feeling and the art of medicine." "Over the years, both ACP (now ACP–ASIM) and Annals have grown. The College is the largest specialty organization in the country, continuing to work to enhance health care by fostering professionalism as prescribed in its mission statement. And the journal has expanded in circulation, improved in impact factor score, and adopted useful new features. A few of these features are peer review of articles (1960), the use of the structured abstract (1987), and the twice-monthly distribution of the journal (1988). As ACP–ASIM and Annals continue to grow, the central values of the art and science of medicine will continue to steer policy and practice."