This third edition of a best-selling social work text reflects the dramatic changes that have taken place in our health care environment since the second edition was published in 2004-and will likely continue to take place. It is a practical guide for social workers who must navigate our complex health care environment and accept new challenges while adapting to continual change. The book encompasses many facets of professional health care social work within the U.S. health care system, across key health care settings and with numerous different patient populations. The book is also a call to action for social workers, who today must not only be therapeutically effective but must be professionally competitive with other health care providers that claim similar treatment strategies and techniques. Permeating the third edition is a strong emphasis on the importance of developing best practices that are evidence-based, supportive, and ethically accountable while remaining time-limited and cost-effective.