Accountability,Standards and Accreditation: Exploring the Link

In this paper, the author explores accountability, standards and acreditation as issues affecting health care professionals. The role of accreditation as a mechanism for accountability is described and the notion that accountability is a vital component of quality assurance discussed. The initiatives of particular health care professions in setting standards and promoting quality assurance amongst their members are explored. The author concludes that the health care professions have much to gain from involvement in the process of review and evaluation.