Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the intent is to the greatest extent that we can, as a system, have returning nurse practitioners be able to return to their home community.
We are currently in the process, as the Member will see when the document about the facilities comes out, that we are setting in benchmarks and services mixes that builds in for the first time in a formal way the number of nurse practitioners that were suggested be in communities based on the size of the community.
There are a number of things that we have to do. We have to look at making sure the job description is properly classified to reflect the new level of skill and scope of practice and experience that the nurse practitioners will be providing, to make sure that there is the funding to cover off the difference between the position they are in and the upgrade to that new position.
We are definitely working on being able to identify and deal with that issue. There are going to be finite limits to that though, that if a community is entitled to or is deemed to be appropriate, that they have, say, four nurse practitioners, once those four positions are filled and there are no vacancies, then we are going to be limited. But we are not at that point. We are trying to get to the point where we are, in fact, identifying positions. For example, in the Member's community, there is a need for more than the one that is currently there; a nurse practitioner. The intent is to expand that service. Thank you.