What does accountability mean?

• A. Be available on weekends only when scheduled
• B. Be responsive to on-call duties during regular hours
• C. Be available and responsive when you are on call (do not call out on weekends, and be able to work holidays)
• D. Maintain patient confidentiality

Answer: (C)

Accountability means taking responsibility for your commitments to patient care and being reliable in fulfilling them. It’s about being available and responsive when you are assigned on-call duties, including weekends and holidays, so patient needs are met and care is continuous. That sense of ownership—showing up, being reachable, and following through on the care you’re responsible for—best captures what accountability looks like in practice.

Why the other ideas don’t fit as well: limiting availability to only weekends misses the ongoing duty to be on-call and responsive when scheduled, and focusing only on regular hours ignores the critical on-call periods when urgent decisions are needed. While maintaining patient confidentiality is essential and part of professional accountability, it doesn’t by itself describe the full duty to be present and responsive for patient care when on duty.