Establishing common ground, engagement, and empathy

Establishing a common ground among clinicians, patients and families for collaborative diagnosis and shared decision-making has been identified as a core component of person-centered medical practice. This chapter will articulate the bases, features and strategies for establishing a common ground among clinicians, patients and families. It draws upon a selective review of relevant articles, monographs and books. This review includes papers specific to the practice of person-centered medicine and, more generally, the literature involving clinical care with a focus on relationship issues, communication, engagement, empathy and collaborative care.