Managed care is the contemporary and near-future system of medicine in which we must learn to exist. Many are afraid of managed care only because they are not familiar with the concept. Misconceptions abound in the medical community concerning the sudden rise of managed care systems. Surgeons, their postgraduate training and experience, daily practice, multiple outside interests, and future governance of their craft are not at risk in the managed care environment. Arch Surg. 1996;131:1032-1036