Professional Governance: To Act—Not Just Inform

The term accountability is used with many differing definitions in the organizations of healthcare. Executives often express their desire for accountability from all employees and hope they will act in the best interests of the organization. Quality leaders want accountable practitioners who would “stop the production line” without hesitation, just as a Toyota associate would do when a workplace safety issue arises. Corporate compliance hotlines exist to help employees anonymously report the actions of fellow workers who are seen acting fraudulently or showing other unethical behaviors. Despite multiple levels of attention to accountability, the actions of the accountable healthcare practitioner rarely emerge.