"With the introduction of managed care and other changes in the economics of healthcare, individual physician practices are disappearing. In their place are larger practices that typically include several doctors and a significant nursing and administrative staff. As a result, physician practices, from those focusing on general care, to specialists such as orthopedic surgeons and ophthalmologists, are turning to medical assistants in the interest of cost-effectiveness and efficiency. From assisting in running the office administratively to interacting with patients and helping with basic medical care, medical assistants with their wide range of skills are increasingly viewed as vital partners in caring for patients efficiently and effectively ... Because of their versatility and enhanced training in recent years, medical assistants are becoming the allied health professionals of choice for a variety of healthcare settings. Medical assistants are members of a well-established profession and are in demand. An added benefit is that the typical training program requires only one- to two-years. There are also varied employment opportunities in addition to private practice, for example, in hospital departments, clinics, pharmacies, insurance companies, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings."--Pages 1-3.

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