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
From Bedside to Boardroom: Matt Smith's Journey in Wound Care Excellence
Wound care expert Matt Smith from Gentel reveals how they're transforming senior care through comprehensive staff education and innovative products like collagen-based dressings and honey-based solutions from their new acquisition, ManukaMed.
• Gentel is the leading wound care company in the US and globally, manufacturing and distributing their own complete line of advanced wound care supplies
• Collagen-based products are particularly effective for seniors as they don't produce collagen like they once did
• Gentel differentiates itself by educating all facility staff on wound care, not just wound nurses
• Matt transitioned from bedside nursing to leadership to make a bigger impact across a larger territory
• The Gentel Direct program follows patients after discharge to ensure wound healing continues at home
• Care plan meetings are an underutilized resource for families to advocate for loved ones and ensure everyone is on the same page
• Gentel recently acquired ManukaMed, a New Zealand company known for honey-based wound care products
Visit our website at comfortmeasuresconsulting.com for more information about our personal care advocacy and business development services. Reach out to Gentel through their social media platforms on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
This episode of let's Get Comfy was brought to you by Evolutionary Healthcare. Caring is what we do.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to another episode of let's Get Comfy podcast. I'm your host, Norman Harris, the CEO of Comfort Measures Consulting, so glad for you to tune in and join us here. Live in Orlando, Florida, at the Florida Healthcare 2025 Conference. Special shout out to our sponsor, Evolutionary Healthcare. And once again, yet again. I have a long-term fan. Ever since last year when I first started the podcast, he's been supporting consistently and I really appreciate him for joining us today on the show Matthew Smith with Gentile the leader what, what leader in this industry, in this sector.
Speaker 2:And I always let our guests introduce themselves. So, Matt, you'll tell the audience who you are. Man Sure.
Speaker 1:So my name is Matt Smith and I'm a regional manager with Gentel and we are the leading wound care company in the United States and globally. Globally yeah, globally, we're taking over the space of womb care. I personally manage a team of clinicians throughout the East Coast of Florida and we serve nursing homes. We go in and we provide not only supplies but the education piece at the bedside and follow through that way.
Speaker 2:Big responsibility and role you have there. Matt, man, I can just tell your personality. I can just tell your personality. I can just tell you, man, you're a wonderful leader and probably a good person to work for and with and partner with as well. So tell the audience here today about Gentel. Who do you serve? I know you say you're one of the leaders, but for those people, the community members that don't know, explain it to them. Yes, sir.
Speaker 1:So Gent is very unique in the terms of we manufacture and distribute our own complete line of advanced and traditional wound care supplies. In addition to that, we have many other programs outside of what a traditional wound care supply company would provide. We're taking over the wound care space because our leader, our executive leadership team, they're not stopping. They they are, they are constantly bringing on new companies and having new acquisitions, new product lines, and so really we're just becoming more of a one-stop shop, which is really turning us to be like the leader in the wound care space in general. Yes, sir.
Speaker 2:What would you say, you guys? Most in-demand product is, or most popular.
Speaker 1:I would say because of the population that we serve, which is long term care, I would say our most effective product would be anything collagen, Because if you're familiar, you know that population. They don't produce collagen like they once did. So it really is really wonderful for wounds that are stalled or stuck or not healing and they have never had collagen either, you know, tried on their wounds or what have you that would be, I say, a go-to for sure.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, so let's talk a skilled nurse facility or just post acute space in general and with Gentile, I asked you this question improving outcomes for seniors is always a focus right, absolutely, so. Tell me about if you could share a story of a great impact that you all have just taken over with an account, a new account that you may have acquired. Just tell me about how you guys help them transition and improve their healing for the wounds.
Speaker 1:Sure. So a lot of times, companies alike will go into a nursing home and they'll work with the wound provider and the wound nurse. And what I will tell you is, most recently we had started a new account up in the Daytona area, where they use another company Formerly. We walked in and we didn't just work with the wound provider and the wound nurse, we worked with the entire team, all shifts, and that's really what makes the impact and drives those outcomes, because it's important that all the staff are hearing the same message. So we work with all the floor nurses, all your CNAs everybody in a facility is responsible for wound care in some fashion. So that really is one of our biggest key differentiators that we take everybody under our wing to make sure that we're all doing and walking the walk the same way.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, to make sure that we're all doing and walking the walk the same way. Yes, sir, and the impact for your role, and I'm pretty sure it has contributed to a lot of your successes that you're a nurse as well, yep absolutely so, if you could just tell, because I know you transitioned to a different role with Gentile, maybe not so more hands-on, but a direct care line, Yep. But what was your biggest professional career pivot? I?
Speaker 1:should say, in your career, I would say leaving bedside and going into a leadership role. I really I wanted something more challenging, and I'm not saying bedside is not challenging by any means.
Speaker 1:It's a different type of challenge I wanted. I wanted to make a bigger impact, and me leading a team and seeing their success drives, drives me, you know. And and then doing it on a larger scale, larger territory, if you will. And then doing it on a larger scale, larger territory, if you will. Formerly before Gentile, I worked for another company and I was traveling all across the United States to various facilities and making an impact on that way. So I just I always want more of a challenge, always Correct.
Speaker 2:yes sir, and now, if you can sort of let the audience know today, how does your clinical background impact? You know your work with Gentile.
Speaker 1:now you know I would say the same thing. I worked wound care when I was a floor nurse, but it was very minimal. You know, I wasn't the dedicated wound care nurse. I left the nursing home space and I went into a leadership role up in New York where I taught CNAs, and it was really there that I realized that I could really set the bar higher than what you see sometimes. So that led me into Gentile, because I've always been passionate about outcomes in general. Wound care is like an art. It's not a one-size-fits-all, and so I like that part of it. But yeah, I have to be passionate. If I'm doing it, I have to be passionate. If I'm doing it, I have to be passionate, and that's what I am just you evolving as well too, man.
Speaker 2:So just to hear that journey and see that journey for uh other long-term care professionals or nurses out there, they see that there's other options right in health care, because of course health care has so many different uh paths. You know that you can navigate down, but to see that you was able to reach upper management level corporate level is another option as well.
Speaker 1:So it's very inspiring.
Speaker 2:Thank you. So innovation Gentel is, like you said, a world leader in its own space. Any upcoming releases or projects that you can disclose here, give us exclusive here on the podcast, sure, sure. So I mean that could Give us exclusive here on the podcast.
Speaker 1:Sure sure, so I mean that could be a half an hour by itself Got it Okay. But one thing that I'm personally most excited about is our recent acquisition of a company that's known for their honey-based wound care products and that's called ManukaMed.
Speaker 1:They are now part of the Gentile family. They're based in New Zealand and our president and CEO is actually in New Zealand welcoming them to the Gentile family, so that's super exciting. In addition to that, we also have a program called Gentile Direct, and so when we work with these nursing homes, we're not only stopping there.
Speaker 1:When they get discharged home we're following them through and so a lot of times that gets lost in the sauce. You know, when they get discharged home there's no follow through, so we're not stopping there. We want to make sure wounds heal in all regard.
Speaker 2:I love that, yep.
Speaker 1:I love that man.
Speaker 2:So why should a skilled nurse facility, aside of being the largest? What is unique about you guys' approach? You're when you're partnering with the skilled nurse facility, and why should they partner with you all?
Speaker 1:Because we're not just sending you guys supplies and having you fend for yourself. You know, I think, I think, really, what really sets us apart. If I had to hone down to one thing, it would be the, the clinical education and the bedside coaching that we provide for all staff. You know we don't stop at wound care. I can't say that enough. You know we really we take those CNAs under our wing, those nurses who are unsure about wound care. Wound care is a specialty.
Speaker 1:It requires you know, a unique skill set. So I think what?
Speaker 2:really sets us apart.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Not everyone likes wound care you have to be passionate about it, and that's what I know. We do better, we do it the best, and I share a personal story.
Speaker 2:This is for you, constance Black. Constance, when I was going through my AIT program, it was a hearing point health and rehab. Okay, so I rounded, I had to round and spend time with our wound nurse. Okay, rounded, I had to round and spend time with our wound nurse. So she made me go in there and watch her provide treatment. I knew it, I knew it, she was laughing, we were both gowned up and everything. She was laughing. I said, hey, I'm going to be out here behind the door. So it takes a special person to do that care and that work. But it's wonderful, man, and people need it Absolutely. You want to answer a need in life. That's a need for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure. I always tell people too think of Gentel as your phone a friend. You know. Don't just hit us up once a month for those dressings that we're billing to Medicare Right. Hit us up any time and all the time. When you have a question, when you have an educational need, we're going to be there. What's?
Speaker 2:one of the highest compliments you've received professionally, professionally, honestly.
Speaker 1:I think, following a director of nursing up in New York when I worked for a company outside of Gentel, everywhere she went she brought me with her. She wouldn't gear away. That really is the highest compliment. It is Because trust is earned, you know, it's not assumed, yep.
Speaker 2:I tell people to this day. One thing that I love is that when you hear from a CNAs or you know housekeeping staff that five from five years ago, four years ago, they're saying happy birthday or Merry.
Speaker 2:Christmas or just reaching out and say, hey, we have a building open over here. You know you should apply. You know that means that means a lot. You made an impact, because you made an impact on them, that way for them to even remember you. You may have not spoken with them a year, I get it they come out of where you left off Exactly.
Speaker 1:I love that man.
Speaker 2:Yes, so we're definitely an advocacy platform as well. So our families out there today, what would you say is an underutilized resource that you can share with them?
Speaker 1:care plan meetings. Yeah, it's the perfect place to ask questions, advocate for your loved one and make sure everyone's on the same page. I love you know that was a great answer. Yeah, I used to be part of care plan meetings a lot when. I was when I was a unit manager and and it was refreshing and beautiful to see those families show up, you know, and and when they didn't, it was like you know.
Speaker 2:It'd be helpful to have them here, you know, so we can make sure everyone's hearing the same thing. Honestly, that's what I added to Comfort Managers Consulting. We do have personal advocacy from a consultant standpoint, but also in person. If a family member wants to take that extension with Comfort Managers Consulting, we attend care plan meetings and representation. Of course, you can just get permission. If a POA, a responsible party, gives permission, an advocate can come in and actually help with the families. In that case and that's why I added that piece because care plan meetings are so important, they're so important, they're so important. And some family members aren't familiar with the jargon, they don't know the inner workings of a skilled nursing facility. So having an advocacy organization like myself, family members aren't familiar with the jargon, they don't know the inner workings of a skilled nursing facility, correct, so having an advocacy organization like myself, that's why I thought that was the area. Absolutely yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Appreciate it, those things together.
Speaker 2:All right, man. So we're wrapping up the show here and I have a question for you, man, you told me you liked this question. So if wound care had a superhero superhero, yeah what would their name be?
Speaker 1:and would there were, uh, would they wear a cape or a compression socks, which, yeah okay, first of all, their name would be granulation grain tissue granulation, yes, granulation tissue, and the reason why is because there's so many uh, providers and nurses who work in the wound care space who can't determine a partial thickness wound to a full thickness wound and so full thickness wound, and so that's kind of what we do, right, we're educating all the time, and so compression socks all day long. I wear wound rounds often, and sometimes they last far, far longer than I would appreciate. So compression socks for everyone.
Speaker 2:Compression socks for everyone. Absolutely For Gentile, if you could share your website social media platforms where people can find you sure so we're on LinkedIn, facebook, instagram.
Speaker 1:A simple Google search is going to show you everywhere we are. We're constantly updating our socials to make sure everyone's well aware of what we're doing or what we have up our sleeve. So give us a follow. Reach out anytime. I'm very active on LinkedIn as well, so reach out to me directly and we'll get you connected.
Speaker 2:Well, Matt man, I'm very grateful you to join the platform Gentile. You're doing an amazing job. I love the advancements. I love everyone that I've encountered, from Brynn yes, Matt wonderful personalities, easy to get along with, very down-to-earth individuals. They want to meet your need. They're very welcoming, uh, very approachable, so doing a wonderful job building a culture for one, selecting the right people to be a part of the team. Thank you, uh, and we I just love the growth man awesome, you guys are a powerhouse for a reason.
Speaker 1:Thank you, you are yes, we're not done yet. Not done yet. Y'all way out of.
Speaker 2:New Zealand. That's right. Shout out to David yes sir. Thank you for joining us here. Be sure to subscribe on YouTube Comfort Measures Media. We have a lot of things coming up right. Visit our website, comfortmeasuresconsultingcom. We do have a podcast platform, but that's not all we do right. We offer personal care advocacy. We also do business development services for independently, privately owned healthcare organizations right, so please reach out to us. We're here to support you and for your business growth. Thank you, awesome.
Speaker 1:Thank you Appreciate it. This episode of let's Get Comfy was brought to you by Evolutionary Healthcare. Caring is what we do.
