Final answer:
It is true that medical assistants and other healthcare professionals should regard patients as consumers, since modern healthcare systems require a balance between service quality and efficient resource allocation, much like any service industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, medical assistants and other health care professionals should view the patient as a consumer of health care. In contemporary health care systems, which often resemble a fee-for-service or health maintenance organization (HMO), the dynamics of patient care have evolved. Patients seek technically competent help, aiming for effective treatment outcomes and positive healthcare experiences, much like a consumer in any other service industry. Providers must balance the allocation of resources and address the challenges of adverse selection in insurance markets, where informed patients as consumers make choices based on their perceived value of the services.
The patient-centric model is supported by various practices such as Theatre in Health Education, which promotes healthy practices and helps medical professionals develop better bedside manners. With the healthcare industry following a model of mass production and efficiency and the integration of telemedicine and artificial intelligence, the relationship between the healthcare provider and the patient continues to become more akin to a service provider and consumer dynamic, where quality of care and patient satisfaction are paramount.