Accountability is essential in the healthcare environment as members of a healthcare organization must be accountable for their actions and held responsible by the organization or the consumer. Many important changes have occurred in healthcare and one of the most notable was the beginning of professional integration between companies, hospitals and doctors. Strong partnerships emerged and, over time, individuals within these successful health care organizations developed a mutual understanding and respect for other professions (Fraschetti & Sugarman, 2009). Healthcare leaders and managers have used this knowledge to build high-performing teams through a variety of skills, including those found in interpersonal skills. Through positive communication, training, mentoring, collaboration, and staff empowerment, transition managers and leaders demonstrate interpersonal skills, which are highly effective in the healthcare environment (Guo and Anderson, 2005). Through leadership team building efforts, we see high-performing healthcare teams emerge with trust, shared goals, and a strong organizational culture that understands the mission and goals they must achieve . Individuals, teams, managers and leaders in a successful organization know and understand their responsibilities and expected standards. Scott (2001) describes a three-part accountability process that defines what is expected, helps individuals understand expectations, and establishes standards and safeguards that are consistent and enable accountability. Measurements and Implementation in the Accountability Process In the US Navy, we are taught the definition of accountability in the Navy and then...... middle of paper ......shore. Pivot Health website. Retrieved February 21, 2011 from http://www.pivothealth.com/userfiles/pdf/090701%20Bob%20Fraschetti%20Michael%20Sugarman%20Successful%20Hosiptal-Physician%20Integration%20Trustee.pdf.Guo, KL and Anderson, D. . (2005). The new healthcare paradigm: Roles and skills of leaders in the service line management approach. International Journal of Healthcare Quality Assurance, 18(6/7), XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 948775781). Miller, N. (2000). In search of responsibility. Nursing Economics, 18(2), 92. Retrieved March 6, 2011 from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 52765815). Scott, G. (2001). Responsibility for service excellence. Journal of Health Care Management, 46(3), 152-5. Retrieved March 6, 2011 from ABI/INFORM Global. (document ID: 73034086).