Outcomes & Industry Impact
What began as a single resident request evolved into a scalable care model that not only improved quality of life, but positioned the organization as a regional leader in resident-centered innovation.
Program Adoption & Resident Impact
•Expanded from one Parkinson’s resident to multiple participants over time
• Prospective residents chose the community specifically because this program was available
• Families expressed strong support for the autonomy and therapeutic benefits
• Consistently maintained a zero-citation survey record
Impact at a Glance
- Multiple resident adoptions
- Move-in driver
- Physician collaboration model
- 100% full seminars
Clinical Collaboration Model
• Implemented structured resident tracking logs to monitor product, dosage, and response
• Compiled and faxed outcome data to physicians to support care planning
• Enabled physicians to actively collaborate with residents on individualized strategies
• Shifted use from trial-and-error to a data-informed therapeutic model
Safety, Compliance & Governance
• Established clear participation criteria based on cognitive status
• Residents with dementia required a state-registered caregiver for administration
• Maintained staff observation without handling, protecting legal boundaries
• Created a defensible, transparent process aligned with Florida statute and AHCA regulations
Thought Leadership & Community Education
• Invited by the Marketing Director to serve as a featured speaker in a recurring medical cannabis education series that included external clinical experts
• Presented the development of our compliant care model, including the regulatory pathway, operational safeguards, and the mission-driven rationale for implementation
• Shared the clinical, ethical, and organizational factors that guided the decision to expand resident access
• 100% full attendance at every session
• Educated families, healthcare professionals, and prospective residents
• Strengthened referral relationships and trust through transparency
Field Research & Ecosystem Understanding
• Conducted on-site research at a licensed medical cannabis cultivation facility
• Gained firsthand insight into product lifecycle, safety controls, and quality standards
• Applied real-world knowledge to policy design, and education
Strategic Value
This initiative became:
- A move-in driver
- A market differentiator
- A repeatable, compliant service model under regulatory ambiguity
- A physician-connected clinical feedback loop
- A platform for ongoing community engagement and education
Leadership Reflection
This work required translating statute into practice, building new workflows without precedent, guiding cultural change in a conservative environment, and publicly representing a high-risk, highly scrutinized initiative.
By grounding decisions in research, data, and resident outcomes, I was able to create a sustainable model that improved lives while protecting the organization’s license and reputation.
Shirin McComb 