Recreational therapy is a profession of practice - and our practice includes more than the hands-on application of knowledge and skills. It is unrealistic to assume that we can help our patients toward a more holistic lifestyle without also understanding the environment in which we practice. This book, then, is meant to be a tool to help the therapist fit into the professional environment of his/her choice. To be able to fit into this environment, the professional must be able to understand the issues and the trends along with the implications of both. To this end the editors and authors of this book present the current issues in the rapidly changing world of health care to stimulate discussion and thoughtful dialog among both students and professionals.