Ensuring that all health care providers—from physician practices to nursing homes—are responsive to the needs and preferences of patients is one of the key components of high performance and a central goal of The Commonwealth Fund. Photo: Roger Carr

orking toward the goal of a high performance health care system for all Americans, the Fund builds on its long tradition of scientific inquiry, a commitment to social progress, partnership with others who share common concerns, and the innovative use of communications to disseminate its work. The 2006 Annual Report offers highlights of the Fund's activities in the past year. The Best Health System in the World. In her essay, Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis discusses the results of the National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance and highlights innovations at home and abroad that offer useful roadmaps for change. The Fund's Mission, Goals, and Strategy Commission on a High Performance Health System Program Highlights, 2006     The Future of Health Insurance     State Innovations     Medicare's Future     Health Care Quality Improvement and Efficiency     Patient-Centered Primary Care Initiative     Special Populations     International Program in Health Policy and Practice The Commonwealth Fund Performance Scorecard. Executive vice president and chief operating officer John E. Craig, Jr., discusses the "balanced scorecard" adopted by the Fund to measure organizational effectiveness, clarify goals and strategies, and ensure continued high performance. Treasurer’s Report and Financial Statements The Fund's Founders and Benefactors Directors and Staff Grants Approved, 2005— 2006     Printable version of entire report (172 pages)