Final answer:
Physicians hired medical assistants due to a shortage of nurses, compounded by expanding healthcare access, which increased demand for healthcare professionals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physicians began to hire medical assistants to handle both the administrative and clinical responsibilities of the medical office because for a period of time there was a shortage of B) Nurses. The legislation which expands access to healthcare for millions of Americans has further increased the demand for healthcare professionals. As a result of these changes, the market has faced several challenges, especially in the labor market for nursing and other healthcare professionals. This supply and demand issue in the nursing field has led to the hiring of medical assistants to support the healthcare system.