This is the first in a series of four articles exploring the issue of continuity of care in family practice. There are four dimensions of continuity of care in family practice: chronological, geographical, interdisciplinary, and interpersonal. Each of these dimensions can be measured by specific actions and can, therefore, be evaluated and learned. Subsequent articles will deal with implications of continuity of care in family practice, its measurement and evaluation, and problems with its integration into family practice residency training.