I am hearing the term "Community Health Centers" as the "new" concept for primary care inner city and rural health care in the U.S. Well folks- been there and done that!!!     The neighborhood health centers of the 70's DID serve a purpose but DID NOT resolve health care issues for the poor or the middle class may I say. These are primary care centers, typically run with a heart but GREAT inefficiency and with some indifference from the non medical doctor employees- like government employees. They are not bad- they are just not great. Great is a private doc who does not have a "job" but is dependent on the community s/he serves as a private practitioner who is connected to others through electronic medical records so quality can be assured. In Canada, the docs are private, the coverage is 70% from the province. Drugs are cheaper. Sure there are waiting lists but there is better health. Community Health Centers are innocuous old concepts of health care delivery but they didn't make a major impact 40 years ago and I doubt that they will today.They will employ lots of old fashioned liberals in planning and administrative positions, however. That's the ticket!