The Let's Get Comfy Podcast
Hosted by Founder and CEO of Comfort Measures Consulting LLC, Norman Harris. The Official Healthcare Edutainment station. Empowering listeners with the knowledge and resources to age comfortably. The podcast platform will uniquely provide laughter, peace, joy, resources and most of all COMFORT. Fostering professional partnerships and engaging the audience by providing them access to a REAL family-like conversation. That gives them the REAL reasons. Connects them to REAL reliable resources. To get REAL results. For REAL Comfort! Through interviews with C-suite healthcare leaders, experts, caregivers, founders, authors, educators, and thought leaders who are doing incredible work for older adults, family caregivers, and the healthcare community.
The Let's Get Comfy Podcast
The Nursing Home World with Mariela Martinez
Discover the inspiring journey of Mariela Martinez, a trailblazer in the healthcare industry, as she shares how genuine care and dedication can transform lives. From her early days in pre-med studies to ascending to the role of Vice President of Compliance overseeing 48 nursing homes in Florida, Mariela’s story is a testament to passion, resilience, and the power of caring for staff, residents, and their families. You'll learn about her unexpected path to leadership, the significant impact of her global travels, and her invaluable advice for aspiring compliance professionals.
Delve into Mariela's rich tapestry of experiences, including her early life with an evangelist grandmother and her profound appreciation for diverse cultures. Understand how international travel has broadened her perspective and deepened her empathy for global struggles, particularly those faced by women. In this episode, Mariela also addresses common misconceptions about skilled nursing facilities and the critical importance of effective communication with families, advocating for realistic expectations and proper resource allocation in the industry.
Finally, get personal with Mariela as she shares her strategies for managing stress, maintaining work-life balance, and fostering the next generation of healthcare leaders. Don’t miss our fun rapid-fire round where Mariela reveals her favorite foods, her preferences in music and entertainment, and what truly annoys her. Join us for a conversation that is equal parts informative, inspiring, and entertaining, promising to leave you both enlightened and engaged.
She had a heroin pipe. What? I did call the police because I was like what am I supposed to do? Oh, wow. And the police said I mean I'll take the heroin, but he said he'll take the Golly, but it's up to you with what you want to do next. These facilities that their bill is $100,000. Yes, and there's nothing you can do about it, and that's wrong.
Speaker 2:That's wrong.
Speaker 1:That is very, very, very wrong.
Speaker 2:At Comfort Measures Consulting, we're here to help you navigate the complexity of health care. If you're caring for a loved one as a caregiver, you don't have resources, you don't know what questions to ask. You need to have options Right. Give Comfort Measures a call. Give us a chance. First consultation is free. Speak with me, comfort Measures Consultant 850-879-2182. You can also visit our website at wwwcomfortmeasuresconsultingcom. Talk to you soon. Dot com. Talk to you soon.
Speaker 2:Welcome to another episode of the let's Get Comfy podcast, where we empower listeners with knowledge and resources to age comfortably Home of love, peace, joy, but, most of all, comfort. I'm your host, norman Harris, and sole proprietor of the let's Get Comfy podcast, and we have a wonderful guest today, a wonderful woman. She's an executive professional in the medical field. She has made a great name for herself in the field of nursing home administrator, vice president of operations, social work and now compliance. In the 10 years she's been in the industry, some of her greatest accomplishments include winning the 2019 Rising Star Award within Greystone Health Management. She also won the 2018 National E-Life Pick Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators administrators.
Speaker 2:As vice president of operations, she was able to collaborate with executives to improve quality of care, reduce agency usage and transition buildings, failing operations, survey and financially to be profitable. On her time off, she speaks quarterly at the University of South Florida to the incoming new healthcare administrators joining the field. So she not only works in healthcare, she also fosters the next generation of leaders. So our special guest today, doing me the honor to joining the show and providing her expertise, is Mariela Martinez. So thank you so much, thank you?
Speaker 1:Yes, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2:Great, so wonderful accomplishments you have gained. We've known each other about three years three years so it's a blessing to have you on the show and just to see your growth from the time I met you to where you are now.
Speaker 1:So it's great. It's great you feel proud of yourself. I am, you know. I think that sometimes we have to toot our own horn, and I toot my own a lot, that's good, that's good, it's well deserving.
Speaker 2:So I want to just start off like just how we met initially is really just through connecting on LinkedIn. I always say and I said this on a previous show as well my social media for a while was just LinkedIn, and I said this on a previous show as well my social media for a while was just LinkedIn.
Speaker 2:My siblings used to call me lame because I didn't have Facebook, instagram, any of that. But, of course, with starting an organization and trying to grow, it's sort of, in today's time, impossible to not have a social media presence. You know, build a business and a brand, but, uh, just from meeting you there, I mean it was just the start of this a continuous contact. You always kept to your word. You know you always open the door for opportunities for me to actually become on board with your company organizations at the time, um, just things didn't work out but you always was pleasant. And, um, and just from the individuals that I know in the industry and they talk about your leadership style and how you foster, like, their careers and just working with you, I mean it's just great feedback. So and I can't say that personally from a lot of people in the industry, but you have that reputation.
Speaker 1:So that means a lot.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's the truth, it's the truth. So if you can discuss just your dedication, and passion in regards to, you know, working in health care. Thank you, that was really kind. Yeah, for sure. So.
Speaker 1:I think the most important thing for working in health care has it has it right there in the word is care. You have to care about it. So you know I think there's a lot of people that get into the industry for different reasons it's safe. You know you'll always have a job. You know healthcare is not going to be bought out by AI or anything that's coming out. You're always going to physically have a job because there's always going to be people.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:So you have to care. So that is being, you know, caring about your staff. If the staff know that you truly care about them, they're actually going to buy in and give you the result that you're looking for. You have to care about your residents. If your residents know that you care, they're going to call you and not call any kind of state agency or or somebody to come investigate something. They're going to trust you and their families, your customers. They're going to. If they see that you care, they know I don't have to worry about it. I'll just call Mariela, I'll call Norman in the morning and they'll take care of it for me. So I think caring is the number one result of good success.
Speaker 2:Right, yes, that's great. So it's a field that fits you, fits your passion and fit what comes naturally to you. So that's that's wonderful, that you could find, I guess, a place like that for your career as well. But why did you decide to become a nursing home administrator?
Speaker 1:It's actually kind of funny. So I was pre-med in college and in my last two semesters I went ahead and started working for a physician that actually went to different facilities. So he went to nursing homes, he went to assisted living facilities, he went to a bunch of different places. So in visiting these places I mean it's really heartbreaking. But you know, you've gone to different places where you see that the quality of care isn't as pristine as others. So in visiting these places I said I'm going to do it better than them and I took the challenge on.
Speaker 2:So I said I'm going to do what they're doing, but better, and give a better experience to the residents. And they did Wonderful. That's good. Wow. Yeah, I didn't have that story like that. That's, that's very goal oriented, and you accomplished it as well.
Speaker 1:I did. I mean, I always say it. This makes me sound cold, but kids aren't my favorite people. It this makes me sound cold, but kids aren't my favorite people. I love old people, so I didn't grow up with any grandparents.
Speaker 1:They all passed away by the age of four so I just always had an affinity towards the older community, so seeing them, um, some of the quality of things that I saw back then and this was, you know, years ago. More regs are in place right now to make sure some of the things don't happen, so I just made sure that I did it better than what I saw.
Speaker 2:Wow, that's good.
Speaker 2:My, I guess, start in just and I didn't even realize that it was indirectly was with my grandmother.
Speaker 2:Just, she was evangelist, so she would always my uncle was in the nursing home Riverchase Nursing Home, I give it, it's in my home city, so my uncle was in there for years so she would volunteer there and, you know, over the summers I was with her during the day. So for years we would always go to the nursing home. You know, sometimes I liked it, sometimes I used to be like, no, I want to go, you know, but we didn't have a choice, we went and just that really started my experience of like just being around residents there and customers and just bringing smiles and joy to their faces, you know, and understanding the impact. But I did not realize at the time that it was a full on business and organization, you know. So that really came later on, but it's good to see that you were able to connect something to you know, just a story, just have a passion for it, you know. So right now, what do you currently do as your current role?
Speaker 1:So right now I am the vice president of compliance for my company. My company actually has 48 buildings across Florida Wow, so I do compliance for the whole company. Compliance means that you know I'm looking through all the contracts to make sure that we're compliant in any you know facet that has to do with legal. I am involved with all the legal cases that we have right now. I'm also making sure that anything that has to do with any surveys that could go up to litigation that goes through me, to anything with risk, goes through me as well as anything that has to do with, like, customer service. So let's just say, if a facility has something that a family member or residents not happy with, I'm the first call to make sure that I intervene, to make sure I'm an unbiased party to come up with a healthy resolution.
Speaker 2:Well, that's good. Yeah, wow. So you speak currently to USF students. So if you would have one statement to them right now, right in this moment, about how would they, if they had aspirations to become a vice president of compliance for an organization, if they had aspirations to become vice presidents of compliance for an organization, what would you say to?
Speaker 1:them. Well, I would first say see what field you're going to be passionate about, because compliance it is multifaceted. So you have to make sure that you understand the industry that you're going to be over the compliance officer of that and make sure that you are unbiased about it, because as compliance you can't put your personal sentiments and you can't just kind of sway any kind of way, because not only yourself but you have your companies legally in your hands.
Speaker 1:So if you're signing something that's not compliant or if you're looking at something that's going to be an anti kickback and you just kind of turn your shoulder, that's a lot of people that could go to jail for that. So you have to take it very seriously and just make sure you're passionate about it.
Speaker 2:That's good. Thank you All right. So just getting a little bit about you. Where are you from, Mariela?
Speaker 1:I was actually born here in Tampa, florida, so I'm a Florida girl, love it. I might move a little bit around, but always come back to Florida. And then at five years old I did move to the Dominican Republic, always come back to Florida. And then at five years old I did move to the Dominican Republic. We stayed there for a few years and when it was time for me and my sisters to go to college, my family moved back so we can start going to college.
Speaker 2:Wow, wow, what do you think? That transition to the Dominican Republic? How did that impact your life at all? Oh yeah, how did that happen? Oh yeah, what happened?
Speaker 1:So both of my parents are American citizens. They've been here for a very. My mom was Puerto Rican. She was actually born in New York, raised here. My dad came to this country when he was 18. But he really wanted us his children, his four children to see that the world isn't the same as america, which is not, you know, and that's why I love international travel and I encourage everybody to do it, because you think you know how the world runs, but it doesn't run the way it does here, so you're made aware of um, you know the struggles other people have and it just shapes you. It shapes you a little bit differently. Even right now I, when I'm having a bad day, I just think how lucky I am to be able to work, to be able to read, to be able to get educated, to be able to say no, I don't want to do that.
Speaker 1:In other countries, especially women, they cannot do that so I just remind myself how I'm privileged to be able to make decisions like that. So it does shape you. You know, going to school over there, um, even just running water, you know, uh, when I lived over there we didn't have just tap, normal running water you had to get the water from the well to take a shower, so that you know changes you and your day-to-day life and it marks you, so I'm so grateful my parents did that that's really good.
Speaker 2:That's a good story. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah, uh, okay. So uh, school, tell me about how were you in school, like you're a good kid, bad, suspended from school a lot.
Speaker 1:No, I was actually great good. My family says I was the easiest of the four. I've just always been focused. I love to read. My whole life I didn't really watch so much TV. We've read a lot. That's good. And then when high school came around, I did start working very early. I already started working full-time when I was in high school, at 15, okay, and we worked at wendix. Uh, I actually worked at daycare okay, I did.
Speaker 2:I know where we're from. Everybody was going to work at wendix yeah at 15.
Speaker 1:You had to have a waiver and everything to work early yeah, I worked at a daycare and then by the time I turned, I think, 18 or 19, I was already the manager of the daycare as soon as I was of age yeah, because they have.
Speaker 2:Uh, people leave it all the time, huh yeah 19 years old. You just run a thing yeah, I enjoyed it too.
Speaker 1:I did um, but yeah, I just loved school. And then after I graduated from high school, I went to community college, um, and then after that I went high school. I went to community college and then after that I went to University of South Florida.
Speaker 2:University of South Florida. Okay, that's good.
Speaker 1:This year I paid off all my student debt. That was my 2024 goal.
Speaker 2:Wow, I did. That's an accomplishment.
Speaker 1:I actually didn't have that much. I paid as I went to school.
Speaker 2:That's really good. Wow, I paid as I went to school. That's really good. Wow, I was very irresponsible. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:No, at times I worked two jobs and then I would kind of put it on a credit card, pay it off by the end of semester, and I just did every semester like that. I encourage you guys to do that.
Speaker 2:It is a little stressful, but then when you graduate like I only had like twelve thousand Right. See, be more like Mar Ellen, not like Norman, okay.
Speaker 1:I didn't want to have no $40,000, $50,000 in debt right off the bat Right.
Speaker 2:So just make me feel even worse. Mary Ellen, Thanks a lot.
Speaker 1:Everybody has their own goals.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but thank you for sharing that though. That's really good though, Thank you. What are some of your hobbies.
Speaker 1:I travel a lot. We have some mutual friends. I got everybody doing this. Especially as an administrator, you have a lot of stress, so I have this rule that I take one vacation a month, always. That's really good. I leave Friday after work so I might leave the building at 3. And then I'm back to work by Monday.
Speaker 2:Whether that means I slept all weekend or not'm taking a vacation. That's really good I do. I wish somebody would have uh informed me of that, like, and I really did it uh, because it really will bring out really quickly, you know so I would say that's my biggest hobby and family, family, god and um building a community when did you go last, though? What was your last trip?
Speaker 1:well, I'm leaving next week to new york okay, but my last trip before that one was puerto rico puerto rico.
Speaker 2:Wow, you're taking c. That's really good. That's very important. I actually uh did a call with uh david franklin, uh with the, and that's one of the things I share with her as well was that, when you get into the role, make sure you dedicate your time with time management, but also enforcing work life balance measures like making sure you stick to those things, though.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you have to. You know the life of an administrator and that's why I talk to the students to see, make sure it's a good fit, because it is very stressful in every facet. I mean, people don't even realize how, how much noise you hear. So my family says it's strange because I come home and I don't listen to anything. I don't listen to music, I don't listen to TV. I like silence and it's because you don't realize how many things you're listening to in a day. You know bells, call bells, the intercom, the sirens, it's just everything. So you have to find a way to center yourself and find out what centers yourself.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:Mine is just peace.
Speaker 2:So it's a game here we. I'm going to sort of interrupt the show for the play, but it goes in more into detail regarding Mariela, because I want to highlight you. So first one is it's called seven versions of me. All right, the first one is Mariela. What's your viewpoint on marriage?
Speaker 1:I think that if you are going to commit to a marriage, you need to be serious about it. I think that people don't take that commitment as serious as they should and it's because you know divorce here is nothing. You sign a piece of paper and you're easily detached from the person when the community and the communion of marriage is supposed to be more important than that. The community and the communion of marriage is supposed to be more important than that. So I think you take it seriously and be committed and really ensure to put your partner's needs as well as your needs first.
Speaker 2:Good, mariela, do you have a sibling? Mariela, as a sibling, how would you say?
Speaker 1:I am very loyal.
Speaker 2:Okay. And I always have a listening ear to whatever they may have going on good, uh, parenting. Give me a point on that I don't like them.
Speaker 1:I just like to use that as a joke. Right um, parenting, I think that that you should be disciplined but soft at the same time. So find a balance within being soft and still disciplined. And I say that because the world is hard. So you have to have that trust within your child, I would say, to make sure they know where to come back to, even if they fall off a path. Path, they know that they're welcome to come back exactly.
Speaker 2:My philosophy is 90 of love, 10 of discipline. But you got to be fierce in that.
Speaker 1:10 of this this way, yeah, uh, you as a daughter as a daughter, I would say um, I'm very thoughtful and respectful thoughtful and respectful.
Speaker 2:that'sful and respectful, that's good, and Mariana as an entrepreneur.
Speaker 1:As an entrepreneur. Well, that's always evolving, you know. I think that you have to look at where you are in your current state of life and your mental health to make sure that it aligns with what your goals are. So I would say it evolves. You know, I, on the side I flip houses, where I buy houses, fix them and and sell them, whereas, you know, before I could have done a couple at a time, whereas maybe now, with you know what you might have going on, maybe I might do one a year, or one every other year.
Speaker 1:So it just evolves, to make sure that um you maintain, um with your passion.
Speaker 2:Good and Mariela impact on your community.
Speaker 1:I would say my. I would hope that I'm just an example, a good example for a lot of different people. Good example for women in the business, good example for women of color, a good example for a young professional, just a good example overall.
Speaker 2:Gotcha Gotcha. So you became a nursing home administrator, so you shared your life. What actually impact your decision in regards to, honestly, your career field, your designation of what you chose to do? But what advice you would have for someone that was it's a brand new administrator, just becoming a nursing home administrator?
Speaker 1:I would say to be take it seriously. Firstly because there's a lot of especially now that I'm in compliance, you can see the legal implications that could come from it. But I would say, take it seriously and be passionate about it. To be transparent, there's a lot of jobs that pay the same nowadays as what administrators are doing, and administrators have a hard, hard job. So get in it for the right reasons. Care about your clientele, You'll be successful.
Speaker 2:Thank you. That being stated, there's an increased approach, I guess, in regards to Florida health care and on just fostering the growth of the next generation of caregivers, Of course, florida's population is already increasing, but just the number of individuals going into the health care field is not, I guess, sort of matching that to the healthcare field is not, I guess, sort of matching that. So why do you think there's a decrease in some of the younger individuals entering the healthcare industry.
Speaker 1:I think there's a lot of reasons. I mean, it's a hard job, you know. If you think about it, let's just say a CNA. You know a CNA has a very hard physical labor job. So nowadays a lot of companies are throwing out a lot of big money where a CNA might see that I can make the same amount or more over here than here. So I think that, like I said, you have to build your community in a facility and people will come to you.
Speaker 2:All right, that is true, that's very true. And people will come to you. All right, that is true, that's very true. Is there any anything that you can suggest in regards to tackling that trend? Like you know, keeping open communication.
Speaker 1:I love bringing volunteers to the building so they can see what you actually do, being candid about it. You know being candid and make sure that everybody knows. You know everybody has a job in this community and, um, it's for a better cause, you know the bigger cause. So I think to combat that, really just talking, having open conversations. I think the media makes nursing homes look bad. Yes, let's just be honest, you know they make us look really really bad and they don't see everything that we really do provide and do, because we do a lot. You know they don't show that there's residents that haven't had a visitor in three years. So we're there sitting doing birthday parties. I'm holding them when they want to be held, I'm giving them a hug. Yeah, they don't see all that, they just see us, you know, as kind of monster sometimes.
Speaker 2:So right, talk about it exactly my thing is with that. That's a wonderful standpoint that you made it. Does it also the sort of the legal being that you're in compliance, uh, the legal implications that can occur? Does that sort of hinder, I guess, organizations from like going back to sort of like back in the old days, I guess, where nursing home and skilled nursing facilities can be more open to the public and have that access and welcome kids more often?
Speaker 2:you know doing those type of things where it makes it, where it's not like this old God forbid. You know place to be. You know what's your thoughts on that.
Speaker 1:It's sad, you know, I can say, when I first started as administrator, I had a party every month, literally a party on my facility every single month. I'm not lying. The doctors will come, families will come. We had family night and we would be there till 11 o'clock at night. Wow, we can't do that anymore, not with the new increased regs, but you can, um, still alter that to make it work for the building. So right now, and let's just say our company, we do do family night still once a month. Um, but it might be. You know, make sure your covid precautions are up, make sure everybody's uh, you know you're seeing it to make sure they're not sick or bringing some sickness in. And you might do like an hour lunch and still try to have that sense of community. Try, yes, yes.
Speaker 2:So it's good to see that.
Speaker 2:you know there's still options out there and alternatives being made to sort of bring that, but it's still just not quite the same it's not why don't we see more of skilled nursing facilities, marketing like, like in the community, more like you know you see the hospitals or a new wellness clinic? They may be on a billboard driving down the road, you know, or in a you know. They're in some magazines. I guess that's basically catered to you know the industry. But why don't you see you know it more in health care in the industry more, or in just social media ads and those type of things?
Speaker 1:A part of it and I say this because I was the VP of operations where our profit margins aren't as lucrative as people may think. So you know what we're profiting a lot of the buildings. Try to put it back in, or maybe we put that money that we're profiting back into. I'd rather pay my staff more than use that money for advertisement. So I mean there's there's. You know there could be a lot of different answers to that, but I have seen it where it's not as lucrative as you think it is.
Speaker 2:Yep, yep, I know for sure. And misconceptions regarding just give me your top two that you could think of, of misconceptions regarding skilled nursing facilities, but also, in answer the question is there a perfect SNF out there?
Speaker 1:Misconceptions. I kind of touched on it, but I mean I love what I see and what I do because we can really impact the elderly, because you'd be surprised about how many residents we have. I've had buildings where in a week maybe we got 10 visitors. That's sad, that's true, you know. So we greatly impact our residents day to day, and putting that smile, making sure they say, oh, you look nice today, or something like that. Right, so that's, I think, a misconception that we have. That I feel like is false.
Speaker 1:And then Heartbreak Cell Nursing we're in the business of people and we work with people. So there's always going to be mistakes and flaws, but communication is what I would say could make a facility close to perfect. So, like I said, you maintain communication. So I trust Norman, I trust Mariela. So I don't like that this nurse might have done this or they didn't tell me that she refused therapy today, but I know I can call them in the morning and say, hey, involve me next time. So yes, we made a mistake, but there's a quick fix to that mistake and that makes it close to perfect.
Speaker 2:Right, exactly so. That's one. The reason why I pose that question and wanted to ask you is because I always used to have the joke with my team in the morning meeting. You know and I'm going to say this for the audience, I am a transparent person is that we sometimes think I guess families, I guess come in, thinking it's the Ritz Carlton.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, or when they've fallen 10 times at home and then say why, why were they? Why did they fall here? Why did they fall here? Yeah, so it's not like a magic door, right, that they just walk through when entering a skilled nurse facility. Same thing with the hospitals as well, right, they go into the hospital, they probably, if they stay there long enough, Right, they're going to fall there as well, right, and they have the more upscale, you know, uh, devices, equipment and all of those things, right, accessible to them there.
Speaker 1:So, uh, I think that's a part of the communication. So when they come in, you have your entrance meeting with them to say this is what you can expect. Um, this is what's realistic and um, this is the plan that we have for your, the individual care plan for your resident Cause, you know, sometimes this is their first time too.
Speaker 2:A lot of families.
Speaker 1:They've never been through this, they don't understand the process, so it's it is our responsibility to make sure they understand it. Yes, you know make sure they understand that. You know, mom may go walk 200 feet when she leaves, but she won't be able to walk down those stairs that she has, so let's transition into more appropriate housing for her or maybe move her bedroom downstairs. So it's our responsibility to make sure that they understand that.
Speaker 2:Yes, I will say that is like the key piece, vital piece, for in regards to families, definitely, like you say that families are first time experiencing this right. They're going through a lot of transitions, whether as far as finding out coverage, right Pair of sources, legal framework, all of those aspects that they are dealing with at the time. So it's the owners, on us to make sure we explain the process and set proper expectations right and have follow through on those expectations as well. So, but that's. I really wanted to go to that topic because it goes a little both ways right. We communicate effectively. It definitely can change the outcomes right, but also expectations when actually entering to a skilled nursing facility. So some of the raw truths. I know you touched on the financials in regards to having that piece to market it out to the community, but what does the financial framework actually entails in regard to devices, equipment and all of those things right accessible to them there?
Speaker 1:I think that's a part of the communication. So when they come in, you have your entrance meeting with them to say this is what you can expect, this is what's realistic and this is the plan that we have for your, the individual care plan for your resident, because, you know, sometimes this is their first time too.
Speaker 2:Yes, a lot of families.
Speaker 1:They've never been through this, they don't understand the process, so it's it is our responsibility to make sure they understand it. Yes, you know make sure they understand that. Uh, you know, mom may go walk 200 feet when she leaves, but she won't be able to walk and down those stairs that she has, so let's transition into more appropriate housing for her or maybe move her bedroom downstairs. So it's our responsibility to make sure that they understand that.
Speaker 2:Yes, I will say that is like the key piece, vital piece for in regards to families, definitely, like you say that, families that first time experiencing this right. They're going through a lot of transitions, whether as far as finding out coverage right, pair sources, legal framework, all of those aspects that they are dealing with at the time. So it's the owners on us to make sure we explain the process and set proper expectations Right and have followed through on those expectations as well. So, but that's what I really wanted to go to that topic because it goes a little both ways right, we communicate effectively. It definitely can change, uh, the outcomes right, but also expectations when actually entering to a skilled nursing facility.
Speaker 2:So, um, so some of the the raw truths. I know you touched on, uh, the financials, uh, in regards to having that piece to market it out to the community. But what does the financial framework actually entails in regards to putting money back into facilities, because you may see hospitals all the time they add an additional unit, they roll out brand new vans for transportation and everything, but just going to the factor of just how confined I guess financial operations piece is in skilled nursing, so the biggest expense with any building is labor, and after COVID, let's be honest, labor has jumped sometimes to double.
Speaker 1:You know whether that is a staff member won't pick up. They refuse to unless they get a bonus or we had to raise the minimum wage. We also had to be competitive. So that is your biggest expense at any building. And then on top of that I mean there's a lot of things we have to pay for. Let's just say you get your survey and your survey comes in. There might be fines associated with that. There might be things that you just have to improve Call bell system. You might be an older building. A lot of our buildings are 50, 70 years old. Those call bell systems aren't compatible anymore, so you might have to change the call bell system or the fire alarm system.
Speaker 2:And those things are very expensive. They are Very expensive.
Speaker 1:You know these are upwards of $100,000.
Speaker 2:Yes, for sure, yep.
Speaker 1:So there is a lot, a lot of expenses. I mean, we've taken over a couple of buildings that were in trouble when it came to survey management, and some of those bills are $600,000, $800,000 just to keep the doors open with that. So there's a lot of expenses. But I've always just said, if you have a good product, people will come to you.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's true. If you had two points right, that will impact skilled nursing, that you can say to a decision maker, a law lawmaker, right, one of our governmental officials, what would it be?
Speaker 1:I am very passionate about this one and this will actually be my next, probably a thing that I'm going to pursue. But it's the residents who do not have an advocate or, basically, are indigent. A lot of people don't know, but all the nursing homes and facilities were absorbing all of that cost at 100%.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:So it's not like you can, just you get Medicaid, you get Medicaid. It is not like that.
Speaker 2:The.
Speaker 1:Medicaid process is extremely strict, and what they will approve and what they will provide, but then again we are not allowed to discharge people. No, so unless we have a safe discharge, so let's just say we get somebody and they say I'm not paying you, I'm never gonna pay you and you can't kick me out, we can't you can't so you know you have some residents sitting in these facilities that their bill is a hundred thousand dollars, yes, and there's nothing you can do about it, and that's wrong.
Speaker 1:That's wrong. That is very, very, very wrong. Um, I understand that, yes, you can't trust every facility or everybody exactly, but assign somebody to the case, assign them. We won't work with you and we'd keep the patient under medicaid. But care isn't free, labor isn't free, supplies aren't free and there's a lot of patients who are just getting free care right, but then they go.
Speaker 2:But but as the consumer or the customers, the families you're entering and I'm bringing this from the financial topic you enter to these facilities and you may not see the best flooring or the best painting or the best those upgrades that you'll see when you walk into the hospitals or some of these wellness spas. That's a lot of.
Speaker 1:That's the reason why what you just said, and even people, some people that we do have payers, let's just say a managed care payer. So far this year we're only right now in mid-year I can say I've seen it with my company we're already $4 dollars in write-offs wow because of either take backs or the insurance provider saying, yes, I gave you an off, but I'm going to take it back. So there's a lot of things that happen in the background a lot of things, and again.
Speaker 2:Resources, knowledge and insight is what I wanted to provide with this platform. What you stated there, I have not heard on anywhere.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I haven't read it. It's a lot. It's a lot the take-backs. Or even you'll get an audit two years later for care you provided two years ago, and it could be from anybody, from CMS or the insurance provider. They'll look at it, look at your notes and say I'm not going to cover that.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So it happens a lot.
Speaker 2:Yes, Thank you for sharing.
Speaker 1:That's a wonderful point, and that's actually why some communities have turned into total private pay or just Medicare. And it's not because you know they want to. It's not because they're trying to be selective with certain residents. It's because that's that's financial toll on the company.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and that goes into my next question which I have why has, why, in your opinion, there has been such a trend and a push in regards to aging in place? I understand preferences, the right of the patient what they desire. Also, it's more suiting in some cases, health-wise right, for a person to, I guess, be more stable in their natural environment, where they really desire to be. But I do know that there's a flip side of that and there's another motive in regards to it. That's just my personal feeling in regards to aging in place, right, and there's also a higher concentration on since living facilities as well in in comparison to the option of skilled nursing. Your thoughts on that. I'm a bit big advocate on aging in place.
Speaker 1:I really think that you know advocate on aging in place. I really think that you know nursing homes should be your last. You know I cannot do it at home anymore or um the assisted living at my acuity is too high and I can't stay in assisted living. And the only reason why I say that is um your dignity. You know your dignity of being able to be independent and being able to just be safe and as independent as possible for as long as possible.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Now there comes a time. You know a lot of our residents are Hoyer lift patients. You know their spouses cannot operate safely operate a Hoyer at home or they can't safely toilet them at home, are at home or they can't safely toilet them at home. That's when you have to have those conversations to say realistically I keep myself safe and my health safe, what can I do for my spouse or my father or or things like that? Another part of it is also the adult children. What are you supposed to do if you know you're only 40 or 50 and your parent needs full time care at home and you have to work?
Speaker 2:Right, what are you supposed?
Speaker 1:to do Right. So there's just different conversations that you have to have realistically and see what's what works best for the family. But I do agree you should age in place as long as you can, for as long as it's safe for you and the person who's a caregiver you can, for as long as it's safe for you and the person who's a caregiver.
Speaker 2:Exactly, I agree with that too. I definitely agree with the aging in place uh uh and the train of it being uh uh. I guess that could actually be the balance in between just the decrease in the uh sort of younger or youth going into the care field as well. You know, because if you have less people going into nursing or health care, there's more people aging in place. That sort of fits, more so they're.
Speaker 2:You know they're having that greater need, I guess in the field, but um I do think that um skilled nursing facilities are definitely needed oh yeah, it's definitely needed, um, and it should be just something that is more funded. I think you know just some of the things that you have unveiled here today is just all the reasons why, right. So what future advancements in health care are you most excited about?
Speaker 1:Oh, that's a good one. That's a good one. Well, I think that. Well, there's already been some things that have been implemented that I've liked. I just said I'm huge on communication and with the increased technology it has made it easier to communicate with family members and residents. You know, now you could, by click of a button, send them an update. You know, we're in Florida, so we have a lot of storms and hurricanes, so you can send a button to say you know your, your loved one, is safe. I'll let you know if we go into generator mode. Here's my cell phone if you need anything. So those kinds of things are exciting and I think to come there might be just more advanced technology when it comes to the equipment that we use.
Speaker 1:You know, have you ever been on a Hoyer lift?
Speaker 2:No, but I've used it to.
Speaker 1:It's not comfortable. Yeah, I got you you know if you've ever sat on it and imagine you're in your 90s already in pain you know, oh, wow. So things like that, the scraps and just the weight, yeah, ready in pain, you know, wow so things like that and just the way, yeah, okay, so I'm excited for you know, for more advanced technology to uh make the quality of life for the residents better that's really good yeah or even like the mattresses.
Speaker 1:You know just different stuff like that. I feel like you kind of see it in other countries sometimes, like on tiktok or whatnot right so I'm excited to get that stuff here.
Speaker 2:That's good. That's good. I think that's a need. For sure is more advancement. I think there's good companies out there that's trying to do so. But again, you have to have financial assets right To be able to sort of follow those advancements and be able to afford them, sort of follow those advancements and be able to afford them. My next question is it's about laughter and learning, so this is a topic here. All right, so what is the most unusual item you found in a patient's room during a compliance check?
Speaker 1:A lot of funny ones.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, I would say the one that made me laugh the most, and this probably isn't funny, but uh, you know, we get young patients all the time and sometimes they're there for a reason where they might, you know, be have some addictions. Right, but I actually had a. She was, I think, 96 or 97. Um, I did call the police because I was like what am I supposed to do? And the police said I mean I'll take the heroin, but uh he said but, uh, it's up to you with what you want to do next.
Speaker 1:Um, but she was just this happy lady. She had just admitted the day before and, uh, we were cleaning and you know, explaining how the stay is going to be, and she was open about it.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:So I feel like that, just because of her age was the most shocking. But I mean, you see funny stuff all the time, all the time, man, all the time I love the animals, the fake ones.
Speaker 2:The ones that have the heartbeat, like the little cat messing around. I can't remember.
Speaker 1:Sometimes the babies scare me. Oh yeah, Little babies, the older ladies that have the babies. Those are a little scary sometimes, but I love the animal ones.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the dog Like. I had one activities director I worked with I was just about to call her name but she would bring her pets like dogs, and I mean they used to line up at her door waiting. So when she arrived in the morning they wanted to be first and then hold the dog all day long. That's the most small little dog I ever seen.
Speaker 1:I actually have a great case study on that, Really Also with those, and it's good to ask questions and communicate because your site providers a lot of times they'll provide it for the resident and it's covered under the insurance.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:To provide those animals, not real ones, but the fake ones for emotional support Emotional support. It's actually covered.
Speaker 2:That's really good. All right, the next one is let me make sure I ask one that's appropriate uh, if you could turn uh one of your facilities into a luxury spa for a day, what were some of the amenities?
Speaker 1:you would add. Well, to be honest, we have I have some buildings that are pretty luxurious really. Oh yeah, some of them they are like the ritz carlton, but we try to provide the same amount of care to everybody. I would say a luxury spa. The biggest thing is concierge, and you can do that with any building. So having a person I like to do CNA, because then they can help, but a person that's just on call all the time so you can press a button to say I need this or I want this, or my concierge I've always had a concierge in every building I think it's worth it.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:Even if I say you have a budget of $200 this week to buy this person out back or this person a steak, or just to make them feel like there's something to look forward to, so I would say that is something that's invaluable.
Speaker 2:It is, and also that first initial introduction to facilities as well. So other leadership out there skilled nursing facilities if you can add that to your budget of having a concierge, is definitely worth it and the right one.
Speaker 2:The right one. Yes, A lot of times you have tenure staff that would fit in that role in some cases, especially those individuals that really just take ownership and love where they work. If you find wonderful CNAs or LPNs or as that case, but a lot of times it's CNAs that will take ownership of that role. It's very important. I agree with you.
Speaker 1:Yes, I feel like that's the most. I think that's worth more than having scented towels or cookies up front, I think, having somebody you can just dial nine and it goes straight to a real person yes um, you know, I'm scared, I'm hungry, I'm thirsty. Uh, you know, can you help me dial my daughter um? Right somebody at your fingertips. That's really important and if you see, like hilton and maria, all these hotels, they're starting to do that yep, they have concierge a whole little disc over there.
Speaker 1:Oh you get text messages now I just checked into maria and as soon as I checked in I already got hi. My name is sharon and I'm here.
Speaker 2:I'm your concierge yeah, we've stayed at a recent location as well and they had to text me oh, we need some more towels yep, that's right away.
Speaker 1:That's very good you right.
Speaker 2:You're right to have that. And then just think about the entry point to the facility. Just having them knowing where to go, direct them to the area. That's really good. That's a good one. I like that All right. So my next question for you is comfort and safety measures. As a nurse home administrator, those are two vital points there that we oversee, right. What makes you serve better as a nurse home administrator in regards to providing safety for your residents, whether it was you staying on top in regards to being educated and completing your CEUs or what some of the measures you took, you know, as a nurse home administrator, to ensure resident safety.
Speaker 1:First word that I think about is inclusion. It's not just me as administrators, everybody. So we do have to have a safety committee and not just your maintenance, your director of nursing, your everybody. I grab CNAs, I grab nurses, housekeeping, all of us we're all going to get educated on the subject and a lot of your communities have the annual meeting or quarterly meeting with the police department, with everybody. Go to coalition meetings, join them so you can know what's new and what's happening in the community.
Speaker 2:So partner with like police, local police and fire department and welcome them in to whether there's a potluck event that you're having or you know, anything that you're celebrating is really good to include. You know those local emergency management team you know.
Speaker 1:And, just you know, be friendly to them too. They can help you. Like, like I said, there's hurricanes were in Florida, so send them messages, say, hey, my facility is good, you don't have to worry about us, we have all supplies. So if you'd like to come by, come by, but we are good here. It really leaves an impact.
Speaker 2:Right, I learned about that just partnering with. When I was in Polk County, like I think they're in Lakeland, we had a sort of a security concern at one of the facilities. And you know, if you don't have the budget to pay for sort of like security police officers to come and monitor they had where they had like a watch list you can become, get on their watch list and they'll have, you know, police officer in their area, at least round at your facility. But if you don't partner with them or communicate, you never know that that that's even an option available.
Speaker 1:so um, even your department of health. They have supplies there in case of an emergency too.
Speaker 2:Yes, just for that stuff yep, you're right, department of health definitely a big factor. Um, I remember my liaison. She was great too. I forget her last name, patel. Yeah, that was her last name. Shout out to you, ms Patel, if you watch this. Thank you've had between just you and your staff, because just I always believe in operating as a team and just having fun. Just what are some of the fun activities or communications that you would do with them?
Speaker 2:So many, because you can learn right and provide education at the same time. That's probably my learning style, so that's why I just assume everybody else is like that.
Speaker 1:but yeah, um, so many. To be honest, I like doing monthly team building, so, whether that's go bowling, go out for some wings um, there's just so many. Uh, doing funny gifts, like doing the what's it called the white elephant but, make it like funny, it could be from the dollar store, funny things, things, but it makes them laugh, you know. So I mean there's just, I have too many.
Speaker 2:I wasn't good with that Like for us, um, like birthdays and stuff keeping track. I was terrible doing that. I would have, like my HR, someone else to like keep track.
Speaker 1:So I live by my calendar, so as soon as I go to my building, I have hr give me a list and right then and there, that first week I'm an administrator, I put everybody's birthday on my calendar that's good, so I just have it and, um, it makes, it, makes it, makes a difference. And I do have to say a lot of administrators forget this.
Speaker 2:Don't treat one differently than the other, I know that's why I didn't want to keep up with it. I said you know you know what, if I do someone else's birthday different, it's going to be just as you know. I'm just stay out of it, not even do it, but I'll let HR just tell me, and then that's how I do it.
Speaker 1:So I always just do the same thing or something similar to make sure that everybody feels special.
Speaker 2:You're watching out for that favoritism.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you do that Okay. So thank you for sharing that. That's really good. My next question for you is in regards to just building a team. So if you go into facility, I think one thing that I feel like is very impactful for any organization, not just for skilled nursing, is having a team there and be able to build continuity with each other, understanding how each of the scrum suits, understanding our practices, how we work together and gel together. But a lot of times in skilled nursing you don't get that time to do it.
Speaker 1:You have to prioritize it. I would say I've been very fortunate to say that I've had just incredible teams. I wouldn't have any of my success without my teams. No you do have to build on it, you know. You have to ensure that you know what this person is like, this person doesn't like, and make sure that you empower all your individuals to make sure that they know that they're a contributing factor in this community. Yes, so I can't do this without you, right? So everybody has their role in the village.
Speaker 2:You're right, one hundred percent. So if you have a new administrator right coming in to a new role 24 years old, your DOA has been there 20 years. She's 52. Your ADOA might be 45. Unit manager I'm just throwing number ages out here. But you're 24 years, 25 years old and you're leading this team.
Speaker 1:Yep and I dealt with that. I dealt with this all the time.
Speaker 1:I would have to say just maintain professionalism at all times, because everybody's always looking at you. So you just have to make sure that you're being professional at all times, because everybody's always looking at you. So you just have to make sure that you're being professional all times and remember that you have very skilled, educated executives in your building. You don't have to try to micromanage everything, like look to see what's going right, what needs improvement, and then pivot from there. You know, just because you're going to a building doesn't mean well, I have to see what nursing's doing. Nursing might be fine.
Speaker 1:So that DON that's been there for 20 years her last survey was maybe one or two citations. You should know that you don't have to be up that person's back, you know, see what you can contribute to the facility and go from there. And I think that's something a lot of administrators kind of do wrong. They say I'm going to go in there and be the boss or shake some things up, when you don't always have to do that. You know you have to really observe and pivot from there.
Speaker 2:Right. My initial presentation to my every facility I started was I don't have, like this, already created team that I'm bringing.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:No, if you're good, you do your job and work. I can work with anybody. I feel as long as you're willing I say as long as you're willing, willing to work hard, willing to adapt, uh, willing to be dedicated you're gonna be here I've always said I've never fired anybody, they fired themselves yeah, that's a good one too, that's true.
Speaker 2:So I have some surprise questions for you. We'll get to that now If I get here in my phone, all right, so the first question is that's my answer. You have five seconds to answer. If you could go on a date with any celebrity, who would it be? Jesus Christ, yeah, yeah, oh man, I didn't think you was playing Jesus Christ. Yeah, but that's going to be like a.
Speaker 1:All right, you're going to do a two-part of a date.
Speaker 2:You're going to just yeah, I don't know what Jesus dating Jesus would be like. All right, gonna. Just yeah, I don't know what jesus dating jesus would be like, all right, probably barack obama. Barack obama, yeah, you think barack obama smokes cx? All right, so, uh, I might have to take that out, huh, but uh, so, carter, be your carter, be your beyonce um.
Speaker 1:For what?
Speaker 2:just music, wise or Beyonce, for what?
Speaker 1:Just music-wise. I don't know Music If I'm at the gym. Cardi B, cardi B okay. Beyonce, if I'm with my family.
Speaker 2:All right, got you Chicken or seafood, seafood, seafood.
Speaker 1:You don't like chicken? I do like chicken, but I don't like to cook it Really I cook seafood, but you don't like chicken, I do like chicken but I don't like to cook it Really.
Speaker 2:I cook seafood.
Speaker 1:But you don't cook fried chicken?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, okay, but you don't like to cook it because you got to clean the chicken. What part is it? I don't like that. I love chicken. What you got against chicken.
Speaker 1:You know what it's. The smell I don't know why I'm really weird with as an administrator. They all know this. Really, I have such a sensitive nose. It's really really sensitive. You would think seafood grosses me out, but there's something about the chicken smell.
Speaker 2:Really Okay.
Speaker 1:I got to put a lot of lemon, clean it real good, because I'll gag.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I use white distilled vinegar, lime and baking soda too.
Speaker 1:I use baking soda a lot. I'm so finicky that even at my buildings there's some flowers you can't buy. I I got a sensitive nose.
Speaker 2:I'm just saying, okay, uh, tim mcgraw or elvis presley tim mcgraw, uh jackie chan or bruce lee firstly, that's okay, biggie, or tupac, tupac, all right.
Speaker 1:Boxing or MMA.
Speaker 2:Probably MMA, mma, really you like seeing all that blood.
Speaker 1:You use more of your body.
Speaker 2:All right, you have two choices here. You miss work for a month, no pay, or you missed a shower for a month.
Speaker 1:Which one.
Speaker 2:Do you choose, I guess?
Speaker 1:missed work Missed work.
Speaker 2:okay, I got that one Five shots of tequila or three Long Islands.
Speaker 1:I don't really drink.
Speaker 2:You got to choose one for the game. I can't take shots, so it has to be a Long.
Speaker 1:Island, a Long Island. All right, I don't really drink. You got to choose from a bunch of things. I can't take shots, so it has to be a Long Island.
Speaker 2:A Long Island, all right. I don't drink One food or dish that you would eat every single day.
Speaker 1:Pasta probably.
Speaker 2:Pasta.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm, or like Spanish food I eat.
Speaker 2:Spanish food every day. Why? Because you can mix the sauces and stuff like that, no, and stuff like that no, I just like it.
Speaker 1:I would say, Spanish food maybe.
Speaker 2:Spanish food, okay, and what's something that pisses you off?
Speaker 1:Judgmental people.
Speaker 2:Judgmental people. Okay, that's a good one.
Speaker 1:It really does, really.
Speaker 2:All right, and last one. What is your favorite song?
Speaker 1:Of all time.
Speaker 2:All time Favorite song and you can sing a little piece of it?
Speaker 1:um, I would say it's a spanish song. It's called luna by anna gabriel. How does it go can I just play it?
Speaker 2:from my phone. I'll translate it how about that.
Speaker 1:It's like moon. You see him tell him that I miss him.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:That's in Spanish, though.
Speaker 2:In Spanish probably sounds so good.
Speaker 1:It's mariachi.
Speaker 2:Really Okay, that's good. Well, mariella, this was a great conversation. I think you definitely shed light on things that a lot of people. I was looking at one producer here today just he was over there making faces like what, like things that you know the audience didn't know. So it's wonderful and that's why I wanted to again interview you. It's a blessing again to have you Any last words you want to have for the audience at all.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if you want to use me as a resource resource and I say this to everybody it's on my LinkedIn. I have my actual cell phone number on my LinkedIn because I am passionate to help the new community, whether that is being an administrator somewhere in the middle and health field. I have some friends that have transitioned to a hospital administrator, or that have transitioned and said maybe marketing is more my thing, or got into law, or that have transitioned and said maybe marketing's more my thing, or got into law.
Speaker 2:So I'd like to be that liaison if you need any assistance with that. Yes, and she does respond. She does respond and to everybody else on the internet that don't respond to me, she responds.
Speaker 1:I would say I might not respond right away, but eventually she responds.
Speaker 2:Yes, Thank you. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of let's get comfy podcast. Please become a comfy listener. Please stay tuned, uh, as we'll be having additional episodes and other contents on the podcast the let's get comfy podcast on youtube, so please subscribe, like and comment. Our episodes will be dropping bi-weekly. Be on the lookout for all of our content. When you look at it, hit the like button. That means a lot to me. It means a lot to the support. Thank you so much. Peace.
