A perspective on cultivating clinical empathy.
This paper discusses the role of empathy in clinical practice. An empathetic provider fulfills the patient's basic need to be understood and is vital to the establishment of a healthy provider-patient relationship. The commentary introduces the concept of clinical empathy, reviews pertinent literature on the topic, and focuses on effective communication as a means of expressing empathy in a clinical setting.
Davis
Matthew A
MA
Grace Cottage Hospital, Townshend, VT 05353, USA. mdavis@gracecottage.org