Data from interviews with 100 social workers who treat the terminally ill in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and hospices were analyzed. A number of concepts which-may be related to an optimal model of care were found, including open communication between the patient, family, and hospital staff; the control of symptoms to ease the patients' pain; and the patient/family as a unit of care. It was found that the presence of symptom control and open communication in the setting were more important to the social workers' job satisfaction than the setting itself.