Rails - Dec 2010 - has_many :through full stack help

I am trying to implement HMT for the first time and having a ton of
trouble.  I would like to be able to have the user check a checkbox
and fill some extra fields for data input.  I have tried so many
iterations borrowed from different places I found on the web, none
seem to work quite right.  Essentially I have two models:
''practice''
and ''system'' where a practice can have one or many systems and
I have
a join model called ''implementation'' where I also store some
additional attributes such as who implemented the software and when.
I have now rolled all my code back to the basics following the HABTM
railscast.  So right now when I check a checkbox (choosing the system)
the join model (implementation) does get both system ID''s but I cant
figure out how to correctly add the additional 3 fields and have them
stored when I save.  I have included below what I think is relevant, I
am beyond just hints at this point, I need help with the code itself -
just cant get it to work.  THANK YOU THANK YOU if you can help

-------PRACTICE MODEL-------
class Practice < ActiveRecord::Base
 
attr_accessible :name, :tax_id, :location_ids, :employee_ids, :system_ids

  has_and_belongs_to_many :employees
  has_and_belongs_to_many :locations

  has_many :implementations
  has_many :systems, :through => :implementations

  validates_presence_of :name, :tax_id


end

-----SYSTEM MODEL-------
class System < ActiveRecord::Base
 
attr_accessible :system_publisher, :system_name, :system_type, :system_version,
                  :system_version_certified, :practice_ids

  has_many :implementations
  has_many :practices, :through => :implementations
end
-----IMPLEMENTATION MODEL-----
class Implementation < ActiveRecord::Base
 
attr_accessible :system_start_date, :system_stop_date, :system_implemented_by,
:system_ids, :practice_ids

  belongs_to :system
  belongs_to :practice
end
----PRACTICE CONTROLLER----

class PracticesController < ApplicationController

  #added for auto complete text (HABTM)
  #auto_complete_for :location, :name
  #auto_complete_for :employee, :first_name

  def index
    @practices Practice.name_like_all(params[:search].to_s.split).ascend_by_name
    #@practices = Practice.all
  end

  def show
    @practice = Practice.find(params[:id])
  end

  def new
    @practice = Practice.new
  end

  def create
    @practice = Practice.new(params[:practice])

    if @practice.save
      flash[:notice] = "Successfully created practice."
      redirect_to @practice
    else
      render :action => ''new''
    end
  end

  def edit
    @practice = Practice.find(params[:id])
  end

  def update

    params[:practice][:employee_ids] ||= []
    params[:practice][:location_ids] ||= []
#?
#   params[:practice][:system_ids] ||= []
#?

    @practice = Practice.find(params[:id])
    if @practice.update_attributes(params[:practice])
      flash[:notice] = "Successfully updated practice."
      redirect_to @practice
    else
      render :action => ''edit''
    end
  end

  def destroy
    @practice = Practice.find(params[:id])
    @practice.destroy
    flash[:notice] = "Successfully destroyed practice."
    redirect_to practices_url
  end
end
PRACTICE _form
<% form_for @practice do |f| %>
  <%= f.error_messages %>
  <p>
    <%= f.label :name %><br />
    <%= f.text_field :name %>
  </p>
  <p>
    <%= f.label :tax_id %><br />
    <%= f.text_field :tax_id %>
  </p>

<p>
    <strong>Employee(s):</strong>
    <% for employee in Employee.find(:all) %>
    <div>
        <%= check_box_tag "practice[employee_ids][]", employee.id,
@practice.employees.include?(employee) %>
        <%= employee.first_name %> <%= employee.last_name %>
    </div>
    <% end %>
</p>
<p>
    <strong>Location(s):</strong>
    <% for location in Location.find(:all) %>
    <div>
        <%= check_box_tag "practice[location_ids][]", location.id,
@practice.locations.include?(location) %>
        <%= location.name %>
    </div>
    <% end %>
</p>



<% for system in System.find(:all) %>
<div>
  <%= check_box_tag "practice[system_ids][]", system.id,
@practice.systems.include?(system) %>
  <%= system.system_name %>
</div>
<% end %>


<p><%= f.submit %></p>
<% end %>

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