Book excerpt: Hospice and Palliative Care: Concepts and Practice, Second Edition offers theoretical perspectives and practical information about this growing field. Contributing authors from a variety of backgrounds working in end-of-life care present a historical overview of hospice and explain how the interdisciplinary team functions in the hospice setting. They then discuss challenges to the team including symptom management, death education, ethical issues, and support groups. The future of hospice is addressed in the final part of the book. The contributors are experts in community medical care, geriatric care, nursing care, pain management, research, counseling, and hospice management.