When the legislation was written, it mandated that we establish a network with hospitals and clinics throughout Illinois that would function as a cooperative in which we share experience and try to influence a standard of care. There is nothing like this cooperative anywhere else in the world. In a single year, this cooperative will hold 300 or more workshops, presentations of various sorts, and educational programs. We have also developed a similar type of network with nursing homes. There is a tremendous turnover of nursing home personnel, so there is a constant influx of people that are not experienced, do not understand why patients behave the way they do, and do not understand how to care for them.
Education is very important.
Some of the primary providers have been involved in various clinical drug trials. Peoria, in one study, enrolled more patients than any other center in the United States, including some very famous places. We're very proud of these very active centers. We meet with the directors of each primary provider twice a year. In another week we have our local meeting, which is usually a two-day retreat in which we share information, troubleshoot, and bring everybody up to date.