A system for ablating tissue and facilitating assessment of a nature of contact between an electrode assembly of an ablation catheter and viable body tissue, comprising: an ablation catheter; an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; and at least one additional electrode; wherein the system is configured to obtain a first detected voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned along the electrode assembly of the ablation catheter, and wherein the first electrode is distal to the second electrode; wherein the system is configured to obtain a second detected voltage between the second electrode and the at least one additional electrode, the at least one additional electrode being positioned proximal to the second electrode; wherein the system is configured to make a first comparison between the first detected voltage and a first threshold voltage, wherein the first threshold voltage is indicative of contact between viable body tissue and a first portion of the ablation catheter, the first portion of the ablation catheter positioned at a location between the first and second electrodes; wherein the system is configured to make a second comparison between the second detected voltage and a second threshold voltage, wherein the second threshold voltage is indicative of contact between viable body tissue and a second portion of the ablation catheter, the second portion of the ablation catheter positioned at a location between the second electrode and the at least one additional electrode; wherein contact between viable body tissue and the first portion of the ablation catheter is confirmed If the first voltage is at or above the first threshold voltage; and wherein contact between viable body tissue and the second portion of the ablation catheter is confirmed if the second voltage is at or above the second threshold voltage. an ablation catheter; an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; and at least one additional electrode; wherein the system is configured to obtain a first detected voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned along the electrode assembly of the ablation catheter, and wherein the first electrode is distal to the second electrode; wherein the system is configured to obtain a second detected voltage between the second electrode and the at least one additional electrode, the at least one additional electrode being positioned proximal to the second electrode; wherein the system is configured to make a first comparison between the first detected voltage and a first threshold voltage, wherein the first threshold voltage is indicative of contact between viable body tissue and a first portion of the ablation catheter, the first portion of the ablation catheter positioned at a location between the first and second electrodes; wherein the system is configured to make a second comparison between the second detected voltage and a second threshold voltage, wherein the second threshold voltage is indicative of contact between viable body tissue and a second portion of the ablation catheter, the second portion of the ablation catheter positioned at a location between the second electrode and the at least one additional electrode; wherein contact between viable body tissue and the first portion of the ablation catheter is confirmed If the first voltage is at or above the first threshold voltage; and wherein contact between viable body tissue and the second portion of the ablation catheter is confirmed if the second voltage is at or above the second threshold voltage. <EOS>