Essentials Book 1: Medical Care of People with Serious Illness 

Your foundation for goal‑concordant serious‑illness care 

A fully updated, practice-ready guide to delivering high-quality palliative care across the continuum of serious illness. This essential volume translates national guidelines into clear, actionable frameworks you can use at the bedside and within interdisciplinary teams.  

New in This Edition 

• Enhanced frameworks for goal concordant, culturally responsive communication 
• AI‑informed prognostication tools 
• Expanded focus on health equity, social determinants of health, and caregiver support guidance 
• Updated policy, reimbursement, and value-based care models 

 
How This Book Strengthens Clinical Practice 

• Lead shared decision making and goals‑of‑care conversations with greater skill and confidence. 
• Apply prognostic tools across cancer and non‑cancer diagnosis. 
• Collaborate effectively within interprofessional teams and complex care delivery models. 
• Navigate complex clinical, ethical, and team-based care scenarios. 
• Support smooth transitions to hospice and across care settings. 
• Develop foundational skills in quality improvement.  

Authored and Edited by Leaders in the Field 
Written and reviewed by nationally recognized hospice and palliative medicine clinicians and educators, this book delivers trusted, clinically relevant, and practical guidance.  

Part of the AAHPM Essential Practices in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Series 
A trusted, evidence-based resource for hospice and palliative clinicians. 

Explore the full 9-book series: Essential Practices in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Full Book Set)