Community health centres in Canada.

In an increasing trend, clients are being moved from tertiary and secondary care to primary care. This "down-loading", accompanied by the increasingly complex needs of clients, has forced providers and policy makers to acknowledge the importance of primary care. In exploring options for the reorganization of primary care, the characteristics of community health centres are often promoted as the model with the best potential. This article outlines a descriptive overview of community health centres (CHCs) across Canada.