The 2009 AHA Environmental Scan provides hospital and health system executives with insight and information about market forces that have a high probability of affecting the health care field in the foreseeable future. Contained in the current issues of Hospitals & Health Networks and Trustee magazines, the scan delineates the critical trends and issues regarding consumers and demographics, science and technology, economy and finance, political issues, provider organizations and physicians, quality and patient safety, and human resources. Questions or comments regarding the 2009 Environmental Scan can be directed to AHA’s Vice President of Strategic and Business Planning Gene O’Dell at godell@aha.org.