"This book argues that knowing what patients want and working with them toward mutually defined goals is the essence of good patient care. Skillful clinical negotiation can also augment the rewards, and help overcome the challenges, of clinical practice"-- Provided by publisher.

Clinical negotiation and the search for common ground -- The nature of patients' expectations and requests -- Clinical negotiation in the contents of modern practice -- How communication fails -- Managing emotions in the clinical negotiation -- Strategies for successful clinical negotiation -- Negotiating requests for tests, referrals, and treatments -- Clinical negotiation and controlled substances -- Negotiating with hospitalized patients and their families -- Negotiating with physician colleagues and other health care professionals.