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.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
She had a heroin pipe .
What?
I did call the police because Iwas like what am I supposed to
do?
Oh, wow.
And the police said I mean I'lltake the heroin, but he said
he'll take the Golly, but it'sup to you with what you want to
do next.
These facilities that theirbill is $100,000.
Yes, and there's nothing youcan do about it, and that's

(00:22):
wrong.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
That's wrong.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
That is very, very, very wrong.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
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(00:54):
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Dot com.
Talk to you soon.
Welcome to another episode ofthe let's Get Comfy podcast,
where we empower listeners withknowledge and resources to age
comfortably Home of love, peace,joy, but, most of all, comfort.

(01:17):
I'm your host, norman Harris,and sole proprietor of the let's
Get Comfy podcast, and we havea wonderful guest today, a
wonderful woman.
She's an executive professionalin the medical field.
She has made a great name forherself in the field of nursing
home administrator, vicepresident of operations, social

(01:38):
work and now compliance.
In the 10 years she's been inthe industry, some of her
greatest accomplishments includewinning the 2019 Rising Star
Award within Greystone HealthManagement.
She also won the 2018 NationalE-Life Pick Award from the
American College of Health CareAdministrators administrators.

(02:06):
As vice president of operations,she was able to collaborate
with executives to improvequality of care, reduce agency
usage and transition buildings,failing operations, survey and
financially to be profitable.
On her time off, she speaksquarterly at the University of
South Florida to the incomingnew healthcare administrators
joining the field.
So she not only works inhealthcare, she also fosters the

(02:31):
next generation of leaders.
So our special guest today,doing me the honor to joining
the show and providing herexpertise, is Mariela Martinez.
So thank you so much, thank you?

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yes, thank you for having me.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
Great, so wonderful accomplishments you have gained.
We've known each other aboutthree years three years so it's
a blessing to have you on theshow and just to see your growth
from the time I met you towhere you are now.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
So it's great.
It's great you feel proud ofyourself.
I am, you know.
I think that sometimes we haveto toot our own horn, and I toot
my own a lot, that's good,that's good, it's well deserving
.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
So I want to just start off like just how we met
initially is really just throughconnecting on LinkedIn.
I always say and I said this ona previous show as well my
social media for a while wasjust LinkedIn, and I said this
on a previous show as well mysocial media for a while was
just LinkedIn.
My siblings used to call me lamebecause I didn't have Facebook,

(03:34):
instagram, any of that.
But, of course, with startingan organization and trying to
grow, it's sort of, in today'stime, impossible to not have a
social media presence.
You know, build a business anda brand, but, uh, just from
meeting you there, I mean it wasjust the start of this a
continuous contact.
You always kept to your word.
You know you always open thedoor for opportunities for me to

(03:56):
actually become on board withyour company organizations at
the time, um, just things didn'twork out but you always was
pleasant.
And, um, and just from theindividuals that I know in the
industry and they talk aboutyour leadership style and how
you foster, like, their careersand just working with you, I
mean it's just great feedback.
So and I can't say thatpersonally from a lot of people

(04:19):
in the industry, but you havethat reputation.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
So that means a lot.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, it's the truth, it's the truth.
So if you can discuss just yourdedication, and passion in
regards to, you know, working inhealth care.
Thank you, that was really kind.
Yeah, for sure.
So.

Speaker 1 (04:37):
I think the most important thing for working in
health care has it has it rightthere in the word is care.
You have to care about it.
So you know I think there's alot of people that get into the
industry for different reasonsit's safe.
You know you'll always have ajob.
You know healthcare is notgoing to be bought out by AI or
anything that's coming out.
You're always going tophysically have a job because

(04:59):
there's always going to bepeople.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
Right.

Speaker 1 (05:01):
So you have to care.
So that is being, you know,caring about your staff.
If the staff know that youtruly care about them, they're
actually going to buy in andgive you the result that you're
looking for.
You have to care about yourresidents.
If your residents know that youcare, they're going to call you
and not call any kind of stateagency or or somebody to come
investigate something.
They're going to trust you andtheir families, your customers.

(05:24):
They're going to.
If they see that you care, theyknow I don't have to worry
about it.
I'll just call Mariela, I'llcall Norman in the morning and
they'll take care of it for me.
So I think caring is the numberone result of good success.

Speaker 2 (05:41):
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 careeras well.
But why did you decide tobecome a nursing home
administrator?

Speaker 1 (05:59):
It's actually kind of funny.
So I was pre-med in college andin my last two semesters I went
ahead and started working for aphysician that actually went to
different facilities.
So he went to nursing homes, hewent to assisted living
facilities, he went to a bunchof different places.

(06:19):
So in visiting these places Imean it's really heartbreaking.
But you know, you've gone todifferent places where you see
that the quality of care isn'tas pristine as others.
So in visiting these places Isaid I'm going to do it better

(06:48):
than them and I took thechallenge on.

Speaker 2 (06:48):
So I said I'm going to do what they're doing, but
better, and give a betterexperience to the residents.
And they did Wonderful.
That's good.
Wow.
Yeah, I didn't have that storylike that.
That's, that's very goaloriented, and you accomplished
it as well.

Speaker 1 (06:57):
I did.
I mean, I always say it.
This makes me sound cold, butkids 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'tgrow up with any grandparents.
They all passed away by the ageof four so I just always had an
affinity towards the oldercommunity, so seeing them, um,

(07:19):
some of the quality of thingsthat I saw back then and this
was, you know, years ago.
More regs are in place rightnow to make sure some of the
things don't happen, so I justmade sure that I did it better
than what I saw.

Speaker 2 (07:32):
Wow, that's good.
My, I guess, start in just and Ididn't even realize that it was
indirectly was with mygrandmother.
Just, she was evangelist, so shewould always my uncle was in
the nursing home RiverchaseNursing Home, I give it, it's in
my home city, so my uncle wasin there for years so she would
volunteer there and, you know,over the summers I was with her

(07:55):
during the day.
So for years we would always goto the nursing home.
You know, sometimes I liked it,sometimes I used to be like, no
, I want to go, you know, but wedidn't have a choice, we went
and just that really started myexperience of like just being
around residents there andcustomers and just bringing
smiles and joy to their faces,you know, and understanding the

(08:17):
impact.
But I did not realize at thetime that it was a full on
business and organization, youknow.
So that really came later on,but it's good to see that you
were able to connect somethingto you know, just a story, just
have a passion for it, you know.
So right now, what do youcurrently do as your current
role?

Speaker 1 (08:37):
So right now I am the vice president of compliance
for my company.
My company actually has 48buildings across Florida Wow, so
I do compliance for the wholecompany.
Compliance means that you knowI'm looking through all the
contracts to make sure thatwe're compliant in any you know
facet that has to do with legal.

(08:57):
I am involved with all thelegal cases that we have right
now.
I'm also making sure thatanything that has to do with any
surveys that could go up tolitigation that goes through me,
to anything with risk, goesthrough me as well as anything
that has to do with, like,customer service.
So let's just say, if afacility has something that a

(09:21):
family member or residents nothappy 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 healthyresolution.

Speaker 2 (09:31):
Well, that's good.
Yeah, wow.
So you speak currently to USFstudents.
So if you would have onestatement to them right now,
right in this moment, about howwould they, if they had
aspirations to become a vicepresident of compliance for an
organization, if they hadaspirations to become vice
presidents of compliance for anorganization, what would you say
to?

Speaker 1 (09:48):
them.
Well, I would first say seewhat field you're going to be
passionate about, becausecompliance it is multifaceted.
So you have to make sure thatyou understand the industry that
you're going to be over thecompliance officer of that and
make sure that you are unbiasedabout it, because as compliance

(10:12):
you can't put your personalsentiments and you can't just
kind of sway any kind of way,because not only yourself but
you have your companies legallyin your hands.
So if you're signing somethingthat's not compliant or if
you're looking at somethingthat's going to be an anti

(10:32):
kickback and you just kind ofturn your shoulder, that's a lot
of people that could go to jailfor that.
So you have to take it veryseriously and just make sure
you're passionate about it.

Speaker 2 (10:45):
That's good.
Thank you All right.
So just getting a little bitabout you.
Where are you from, Mariela?

Speaker 1 (10:52):
I was actually born here in Tampa, florida, so I'm a
Florida girl, love it.
I might move a little bitaround, but always come back to
Florida.
And then at five years old Idid move to the Dominican
Republic, always come back toFlorida.
And then at five years old Idid move to the Dominican
Republic.
We stayed there for a few yearsand when it was time for me and
my sisters to go to college, myfamily moved back so we can

(11:14):
start going to college.

Speaker 2 (11:15):
Wow, wow, what do you think?
That transition to theDominican Republic?
How did that impact your lifeat all?
Oh yeah, how did that happen?
Oh yeah, what happened?

Speaker 1 (11:25):
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 NewYork, raised here.
My dad came to this countrywhen he was 18.
But he really wanted us hischildren, his four children to

(11:48):
see that the world isn't thesame as america, which is not,
you know, and that's why I loveinternational travel and I
encourage everybody to do it,because you think you know how
the world runs, but it doesn'trun the way it does here, so
you're made aware of um, youknow the struggles other people
have and it just shapes you.
It shapes you a little bitdifferently.

(12:09):
Even right now I, when I'mhaving a bad day, I just think
how lucky I am to be able towork, to be able to read, to be
able to get educated, to be ableto say no, I don't want to do
that.
In other countries, especiallywomen, they cannot do that so I
just remind myself how I'mprivileged to be able to make
decisions like that.

(12:30):
So it does shape you.
You know, going to school overthere, um, even just running
water, you know, uh, when Ilived over there we didn't have
just tap, normal running wateryou had to get the water from
the well to take a shower, sothat you know changes you and
your day-to-day life and itmarks you, so I'm so grateful my
parents did that that's reallygood.

Speaker 2 (12:51):
That's a good story.
Thank you for sharing that.
Yeah, uh, okay.
So uh, school, tell me abouthow were you in school, like
you're a good kid, bad,suspended from school a lot.

Speaker 1 (13:04):
No, I was actually great good.
My family says I was theeasiest of the four.
I've just always been focused.
I love to read.
My whole life I didn't reallywatch so much TV.
We've read a lot.
That's good.
And then when high school camearound, I did start working very
early.
I already started workingfull-time when I was in high

(13:25):
school, at 15, okay, and weworked at wendix.
Uh, I actually worked atdaycare okay, I did.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
I know where we're from.
Everybody was going to work atwendix yeah at 15.

Speaker 1 (13:38):
You had to have a waiver and everything to work
early yeah, I worked at adaycare and then by the time I
turned, I think, 18 or 19, I wasalready the manager of the
daycare as soon as I was of ageyeah, because they have.

Speaker 2 (13:51):
Uh, people leave it all the time, huh yeah 19 years
old.
You just run a thing yeah, Ienjoyed it too.

Speaker 1 (13:57):
I did um, but yeah, I just loved school.
And then after I graduated fromhigh school, I went to
community college, um, and thenafter that I went high school.
I went to community college andthen after that I went to
University of South Florida.

Speaker 2 (14:08):
University of South Florida.
Okay, that's good.

Speaker 1 (14:11):
This year I paid off all my student debt.
That was my 2024 goal.

Speaker 2 (14:16):
Wow, I did.
That's an accomplishment.

Speaker 1 (14:20):
I actually didn't have that much.
I paid as I went to school.

Speaker 2 (14:23):
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 (14:29):
No, at times I worked two jobs and then I would kind
of put it on a credit card, payit off by the end of semester,
and I just did every semesterlike that.
I encourage you guys to do that.

Speaker 2 (14:42):
It is a little stressful, but then when you
graduate like I only had liketwelve thousand Right.
See, be more like Mar Ellen,not like Norman, okay.

Speaker 1 (14:46):
I didn't want to have no $40,000, $50,000 in debt
right off the bat Right.

Speaker 2 (14:50):
So just make me feel even worse.
Mary Ellen, Thanks a lot.

Speaker 1 (14:55):
Everybody has their own goals.

Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, but thank you for sharing that though.
That's really good though,Thank you.
What are some of your hobbies.

Speaker 1 (15:02):
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 onevacation a month, always.
That's really good.
I leave Friday after work so Imight leave the building at 3.

(15:22):
And then I'm back to work byMonday.

Speaker 2 (15:30):
Whether that means I slept all weekend or not'm
taking a vacation.
That's really good I do.
I wish somebody would have uhinformed me of that, like, and I
really did it uh, because itreally will bring out really
quickly, you know so I would saythat's my biggest hobby and
family, family, god and umbuilding a community when did
you go last, though?
What was your last trip?

Speaker 1 (15:49):
well, I'm leaving next week to new york okay, but
my last trip before that one waspuerto rico puerto rico.

Speaker 2 (15:55):
Wow, you're taking c.
That's really good.
That's very important.
I actually uh did a call withuh david franklin, uh with the,
and that's one of the things Ishare with her as well was that,
when you get into the role,make sure you dedicate your time
with time management, but alsoenforcing work life balance

(16:15):
measures like making sure youstick to those things, though.

Speaker 1 (16:18):
Yeah, you have to.
You know the life of anadministrator and that's why I
talk to the students to see,make sure it's a good fit,
because it is very stressful inevery facet.
I mean, people don't evenrealize how, how much noise you
hear.
So my family says it's strangebecause I come home and I don't
listen to anything.

(16:39):
I don't listen to music, Idon't listen to TV.
I like silence and it's becauseyou don't realize how many
things you're listening to in aday.
You know bells, call bells, theintercom, the sirens, it's just
everything.
So you have to find a way tocenter yourself and find out
what centers yourself.

Speaker 2 (16:55):
Wow.

Speaker 1 (16:56):
Mine is just peace.

Speaker 2 (17:00):
So it's a game here we.
I'm going to sort of interruptthe show for the play, but it
goes in more into detailregarding Mariela, because I
want to highlight you.
So first one is it's calledseven versions of me.
All right, the first one isMariela.
What's your viewpoint onmarriage?

Speaker 1 (17:20):
I think that if you are going to commit to a
marriage, you need to be seriousabout it.
I think that people don't takethat commitment as serious as
they should and it's because youknow divorce here is nothing.
You sign a piece of paper andyou're easily detached from the
person when the community andthe communion of marriage is

(17:42):
supposed to be more importantthan that.
The community and the communionof marriage is supposed to be
more important than that.
So I think you take itseriously and be committed and
really ensure to put yourpartner's needs as well as your
needs first.

Speaker 2 (17:55):
Good, mariela, do you have a sibling?
Mariela, as a sibling, howwould you say?

Speaker 1 (18:01):
I am very loyal.

Speaker 2 (18:03):
Okay.
And I always have a listeningear to whatever they may have
going on good, uh, parenting.
Give me a point on that I don'tlike them.

Speaker 1 (18:17):
I just like to use that as a joke.
Right um, parenting, I thinkthat that you should be
disciplined but soft at the sametime.
So find a balance within beingsoft and still disciplined.
And I say that because theworld is hard.
So you have to have that trustwithin your child, I would say,

(18:38):
to make sure they know where tocome back to, even if they fall
off a path.
Path, they know that they'rewelcome to come back exactly.

Speaker 2 (18:46):
My philosophy is 90 of love, 10 of discipline.
But you got to be fierce inthat.

Speaker 1 (18:52):
10 of this this way, yeah, uh, you as a daughter as a
daughter, I would say um, I'mvery thoughtful and respectful
thoughtful and respectful.

Speaker 2 (19:04):
that'sful and respectful, that's good, and
Mariana as an entrepreneur.

Speaker 1 (19:07):
As an entrepreneur.
Well, that's always evolving,you know.
I think that you have to lookat where you are in your current
state of life and your mentalhealth to make sure that it
aligns with what your goals are.
So I would say it evolves.
You know, I, on the side I fliphouses, where I buy houses, fix
them and and sell them, whereas, you know, before I could have

(19:29):
done a couple at a time, whereasmaybe now, with you know what
you might have going on, maybe Imight do one a year, or one
every other year.
So it just evolves, to make surethat um you maintain, um with
your passion.

Speaker 2 (19:44):
Good and Mariela impact on your community.

Speaker 1 (19:49):
I would say my.
I would hope that I'm just anexample, a good example for a
lot of different people.
Good example for women in thebusiness, good example for women
of color, a good example for ayoung professional, just a good
example overall.

Speaker 2 (20:09):
Gotcha Gotcha.
So you became a nursing homeadministrator, so you shared
your life.
What actually impact yourdecision in regards to, honestly
, your career field, yourdesignation of what you chose to
do?
But what advice you would havefor someone that was it's a
brand new administrator, justbecoming a nursing home
administrator?

Speaker 1 (20:31):
I would say to be take it seriously.
Firstly because there's a lotof especially now that I'm in
compliance, you can see thelegal implications that could
come from it.
But I would say, take itseriously and be passionate
about it.
To be transparent, there's alot of jobs that pay the same
nowadays as what administratorsare doing, and administrators

(20:52):
have a hard, hard job.
So get in it for the rightreasons.
Care about your clientele,You'll be successful.

Speaker 2 (21:00):
Thank you.
That being stated, there's anincreased approach, I guess, in
regards to Florida health careand on just fostering the growth
of the next generation ofcaregivers, Of course, florida's
population is alreadyincreasing, but just the number
of individuals going into thehealth care field is not, I

(21:22):
guess, sort of matching that tothe healthcare field is not, I
guess, sort of matching that.
So why do you think there's adecrease in some of the younger
individuals entering thehealthcare industry.

Speaker 1 (21:31):
I think there's a lot of reasons.
I mean, it's a hard job, youknow.
If you think about it, let'sjust say a CNA.
You know a CNA has a very hardphysical labor job.
So nowadays a lot of companiesare throwing out a lot of big
money where a CNA might see thatI can make the same amount or

(21:52):
more over here than here.
So I think that, like I said,you have to build your community
in a facility and people willcome to you.

Speaker 2 (22:00):
All right, that is true, that's very true.
And people will come to you.
All right, that is true, that'svery true.
Is there any anything that youcan suggest in regards to
tackling that trend?
Like you know, keeping opencommunication.

Speaker 1 (22:14):
I love bringing volunteers to the building so
they can see what you actuallydo, being candid about it.
You know being candid and makesure that everybody knows.
You know everybody has a job inthis community and, um, it's
for a better cause, you know thebigger cause.
So I think to combat that,really just talking, having open

(22:35):
conversations.
I think the media makes nursinghomes look bad.
Yes, let's just be honest, youknow they make us look really
really bad and they don't seeeverything that we really do
provide and do, because we do alot.
You know they don't show thatthere's residents that haven't
had a visitor in three years.
So we're there sitting doingbirthday parties.

(22:56):
I'm holding them when they wantto 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 (23:06):
So right, talk about it exactly my thing is with that
.
That's a wonderful standpointthat you made it.
Does it also the sort of thelegal being that you're in
compliance, uh, the legalimplications that can occur?
Does that sort of hinder, Iguess, organizations from like
going back to sort of like backin the old days, I guess, where

(23:27):
nursing home and skilled nursingfacilities can be more open to
the public and have that accessand welcome kids more often?
you know doing those type ofthings where it makes it, where
it's not like this old Godforbid.
You know place to be.
You know what's your thoughtson that.

Speaker 1 (23:44):
It's sad, you know, I can say, when I first started
as administrator, I had a partyevery month, literally a party
on my facility every singlemonth.
I'm not lying.
The doctors will come, familieswill come.
We had family night and wewould 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 alterthat to make it work for the

(24:07):
building.
So right now, and let's justsay our company, we do do family
night still once a month.
Um, but it might be.
You know, make sure your covidprecautions are up, make sure
everybody's uh, you know you'reseeing it to make sure they're
not sick or bringing somesickness in.
And you might do like an hourlunch and still try to have that

(24:28):
sense of community.
Try, yes, yes.

Speaker 2 (24:34):
So it's good to see that.
you know there's still optionsout there and alternatives being
made to sort of bring that, butit's still just not quite the
same it's not why don't we seemore of skilled nursing
facilities, marketing like, likein the community, more like you
know you see the hospitals or anew wellness clinic?
They may be on a billboarddriving down the road, you know,
or in a you know.

(24:56):
They're in some magazines.
I guess that's basicallycatered to you know the industry
.
But why don't you see you knowit more in health care in the
industry more, or in just socialmedia ads and those type of
things?

Speaker 1 (25:11):
A part of it and I say this because I was the VP of
operations where our profitmargins aren't as lucrative as
people may think.
So you know what we'reprofiting a lot of the buildings
.
Try to put it back in, or maybewe put that money that we're
profiting back into.
I'd rather pay my staff morethan use that money for

(25:34):
advertisement.
So I mean there's there's.
You know there could be a lotof different answers to that,
but I have seen it where it'snot as lucrative as you think it
is.

Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yep, yep, I know for sure.
And misconceptions regardingjust give me your top two that
you could think of, ofmisconceptions regarding skilled
nursing facilities, but also,in answer the question is there
a perfect SNF out there?

Speaker 1 (26:04):
Misconceptions.
I kind of touched on it, but Imean I love what I see and what
I do because we can reallyimpact the elderly, because
you'd be surprised about howmany residents we have.
I've had buildings where in aweek maybe we got 10 visitors.
That's sad, that's true, youknow.

(26:25):
So we greatly impact ourresidents day to day, and
putting that smile, making surethey say, oh, you look nice
today, or something like that.
Right, so that's, I think, amisconception that we have.
That I feel like is false.
And then Heartbreak Cell Nursingwe're in the business of people

(26:45):
and we work with people.
So there's always going to bemistakes and flaws, but
communication is what I wouldsay could make a facility close
to perfect.
So, like I said, you maintaincommunication.
So I trust Norman, I trustMariela.
So I don't like that this nursemight have done this or they
didn't tell me that she refusedtherapy today, but I know I can

(27:07):
call them in the morning and say, hey, involve me next time.
So yes, we made a mistake, butthere's a quick fix to that
mistake and that makes it closeto perfect.

Speaker 2 (27:16):
Right, exactly so.
That's one.
The reason why I pose thatquestion and wanted to ask you
is because I always used to havethe joke with my team in the
morning meeting.
You know and I'm going to saythis for the audience, I am a
transparent person is that wesometimes think I guess families
, I guess come in, thinking it'sthe Ritz Carlton.

Speaker 1 (27:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (27:38):
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 magicdoor, right, that they just walk
through when entering a skillednurse facility.
Same thing with the hospitalsas well, right, they go into the
hospital, they probably, ifthey stay there long enough,

(28:01):
Right, they're going to fallthere 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 (28:11):
So, uh, I think that's a part of the
communication.
So when they come in, you haveyour entrance meeting with them
to say this is what you canexpect.
Um, this is what's realisticand um, this is the plan that we
have for your, the individualcare plan for your resident
Cause, you know, sometimes thisis their first time too.

Speaker 2 (28:30):
A lot of families.

Speaker 1 (28:32):
They've never been through this, they don't
understand the process, so it'sit is our responsibility to make
sure they understand it.
Yes, you know make sure theyunderstand that.
You know, mom may go walk 200feet when she leaves, but she
won't be able to walk down thosestairs that she has, so let's
transition into more appropriatehousing for her or maybe move
her bedroom downstairs.

(28:52):
So it's our responsibility tomake sure that they understand
that.

Speaker 2 (28:55):
Yes, I will say that is like the key piece, vital
piece, for in regards tofamilies, definitely, like you
say that families are first timeexperiencing this right.
They're going through a lot oftransitions, whether as far as
finding out coverage, right Pairof sources, legal framework,
all of those aspects that theyare dealing with at the time.

(29:17):
So it's the owners, on us tomake sure we explain the process
and set proper expectationsright and have follow through on
those expectations as well.
So, but that's.
I really wanted to go to thattopic because it goes a little
both ways right.
We communicate effectively.
It definitely can change theoutcomes right, but also

(29:37):
expectations when actuallyentering to a skilled nursing
facility.
So some of the raw truths.
I know you touched on thefinancials in regards to having
that piece to market it out tothe community, but what does the
financial framework actuallyentails in regard to devices,

(30:00):
equipment and all of thosethings right accessible to them
there?

Speaker 1 (30:04):
I think that's a part of the communication.
So when they come in, you haveyour entrance meeting with them
to say this is what you canexpect, this is what's realistic
and this is the plan that wehave for your, the individual
care plan for your resident,because, you know, sometimes
this is their first time too.

Speaker 2 (30:22):
Yes, a lot of families.

Speaker 1 (30:24):
They've never been through this, they don't
understand the process, so it'sit is our responsibility to make
sure they understand it.
Yes, you know make sure theyunderstand that.
Uh, you know, mom may go walk200 feet when she leaves, but
she won't be able to walk anddown those stairs that she has,
so let's transition into moreappropriate housing for her or
maybe move her bedroomdownstairs.

(30:44):
So it's our responsibility tomake sure that they understand
that.

Speaker 2 (30:47):
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 timeexperiencing this right.
They're going through a lot oftransitions, whether as far as
finding out coverage right, pairsources, legal framework, all
of those aspects that they aredealing with at the time.

(31:09):
So it's the owners on us tomake sure we explain the process
and set proper expectationsRight and have followed through
on those expectations as well.
So, but that's what I reallywanted to go to that topic
because it goes a little bothways right, we communicate
effectively.
It definitely can change, uh,the outcomes right, but also

(31:29):
expectations when actuallyentering to a skilled nursing
facility.
So, um, so some of the the rawtruths.
I know you touched on, uh, thefinancials, uh, in regards to
having that piece to market itout to the community.
But what does the financialframework actually entails in

(31:49):
regards to putting money backinto facilities, because you may
see hospitals all the time theyadd an additional unit, they
roll out brand new vans fortransportation and everything,
but just going to the factor ofjust how confined I guess
financial operations piece is inskilled nursing, so the biggest

(32:13):
expense with any building islabor, and after COVID, let's be
honest, labor has jumpedsometimes to double.

Speaker 1 (32:23):
You know whether that is a staff member won't pick up
.
They refuse to unless they geta bonus or we had to raise the
minimum wage.
We also had to be competitive.
So that is your biggest expenseat any building.
And then on top of that I meanthere's a lot of things we have
to pay for.
Let's just say you get yoursurvey and your survey comes in.

(32:44):
There might be fines associatedwith that.
There might be things that youjust 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'tcompatible anymore, so you might
have to change the call bellsystem or the fire alarm system.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
And those things are very expensive.
They are Very expensive.

Speaker 1 (33:05):
You know these are upwards of $100,000.

Speaker 2 (33:07):
Yes, for sure, yep.

Speaker 1 (33:10):
So there is a lot, a lot of expenses.
I mean, we've taken over acouple of buildings that were in
trouble when it came to surveymanagement, and some of those
bills are $600,000, $800,000just to keep the doors open with
that.
So there's a lot of expenses.
But I've always just said, ifyou have a good product, people

(33:33):
will come to you.

Speaker 2 (33:34):
Yes, that's true.
If you had two points right,that will impact skilled nursing
, that you can say to a decisionmaker, a law lawmaker, right,
one of our governmentalofficials, what would it be?

Speaker 1 (33:49):
I am very passionate about this one and this will
actually be my next, probably athing that I'm going to pursue.
But it's the residents who donot have an advocate or,
basically, are indigent.
A lot of people don't know, butall the nursing homes and

(34:10):
facilities were absorbing all ofthat cost at 100%.

Speaker 2 (34:14):
Wow.

Speaker 1 (34:14):
So it's not like you can, just you get Medicaid, you
get Medicaid.
It is not like that.

Speaker 2 (34:19):
The.

Speaker 1 (34:19):
Medicaid process is extremely strict, and what they
will approve and what they willprovide, but then again we are
not allowed to discharge people.
No, so unless we have a safedischarge, so let's just say we
get somebody and they say I'mnot paying you, I'm never gonna
pay you and you can't kick meout, we can't you can't so you

(34:42):
know you have some residentssitting in these facilities that
their bill is a hundredthousand dollars, yes, and
there's nothing you can do aboutit, and that's wrong.
That's wrong.
That is very, very, very wrong.
Um, I understand that, yes, youcan't trust every facility or
everybody exactly, but assignsomebody to the case, assign
them.
We won't work with you and we'dkeep the patient under medicaid

(35:03):
.
But care isn't free, laborisn't free, supplies aren't free
and there's a lot of patientswho are just getting free care
right, but then they go.

Speaker 2 (35:11):
But but as the consumer or the customers, the
families you're entering and I'mbringing this from the
financial topic you enter tothese facilities and you may not
see the best flooring or thebest painting or the best those
upgrades that you'll see whenyou walk into the hospitals or
some of these wellness spas.
That's a lot of.

Speaker 1 (35:30):
That's the reason why what you just said, and even
people, some people that we dohave payers, let's just say a
managed care payer.
So far this year we're onlyright now in mid-year I can say
I've seen it with my companywe're already $4 dollars in
write-offs wow because of eithertake backs or the insurance
provider saying, yes, I gave youan off, but I'm going to take

(35:52):
it back.
So there's a lot of things thathappen in the background a lot
of things, and again.

Speaker 2 (35:58):
Resources, knowledge and insight is what I wanted to
provide with this platform.
What you stated there, I havenot heard on anywhere.

Speaker 1 (36:07):
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 twoyears later for care you
provided two years ago, and itcould be from anybody, from CMS
or the insurance provider.
They'll look at it, look atyour notes and say I'm not going
to cover that.

Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (36:27):
So it happens a lot.

Speaker 2 (36:29):
Yes, Thank you for sharing.

Speaker 1 (36:31):
That's a wonderful point, and that's actually why
some communities have turnedinto total private pay or just
Medicare.
And it's not because you knowthey want to.
It's not because they're tryingto be selective with certain
residents.
It's because that's that'sfinancial toll on the company.

Speaker 2 (36:49):
Exactly, and that goes into my next question which
I have why has, why, in youropinion, there has been such a
trend and a push in regards toaging in place?
I understand preferences, theright of the patient what they
desire.
Also, it's more suiting in somecases, health-wise right, for a

(37:10):
person to, I guess, be morestable in their natural
environment, where they reallydesire to be.
But I do know that there's aflip side of that and there's
another motive in regards to it.
That's just my personal feelingin regards to aging in place,
right, and there's also a higherconcentration on since living
facilities as well in incomparison to the option of

(37:34):
skilled nursing.
Your thoughts on that.
I'm a bit big advocate on agingin place.

Speaker 1 (37:37):
I really think that you know advocate on aging in
place.
I really think that you knownursing homes should be your
last.
You know I cannot do it at homeanymore or um the assisted
living at my acuity is too highand I can't stay in assisted
living.
And the only reason why I saythat is um your dignity.

(37:59):
You know your dignity of beingable to be independent and being
able to just be safe and asindependent as possible for as
long as possible.

Speaker 2 (38:09):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (38:10):
Now there comes a time.
You know a lot of our residentsare Hoyer lift patients.
You know their spouses cannotoperate safely operate a Hoyer
at home or they can't safelytoilet them at home, are at home
or they can't safely toiletthem at home.
That's when you have to havethose conversations to say
realistically I keep myself safeand my health safe, what can I
do for my spouse or my father oror things like that?

(38:32):
Another part of it is also theadult children.
What are you supposed to do ifyou know you're only 40 or 50
and your parent needs full timecare at home and you have to
work?

Speaker 2 (38:45):
Right, what are you supposed?

Speaker 1 (38:46):
to do Right.
So there's just differentconversations that you have to
have realistically and seewhat's what works best for the
family.
But I do agree you should agein place as long as you can, for
as long as it's safe for youand the person who's a caregiver
you can, for as long as it'ssafe for you and the person
who's a caregiver.

Speaker 2 (39:06):
Exactly, I agree with that too.
I definitely agree with theaging in place uh uh and the
train of it being uh uh.
I guess that could actually bethe balance in between just the
decrease in the uh sort ofyounger or youth going into the
care field as well.
You know, because if you haveless people going into nursing
or health care, there's morepeople aging in place.
That sort of fits, more sothey're.

(39:28):
You know they're having thatgreater need, I guess in the
field, but um I do think that umskilled nursing facilities are
definitely needed oh yeah, it'sdefinitely needed, um, and it
should be just something that ismore funded.
I think you know just some ofthe things that you have
unveiled here today is just allthe reasons why, right.

(39:51):
So what future advancements inhealth care are you most excited
about?

Speaker 1 (39:58):
Oh, that's a good one .
That's a good one.
Well, I think that.
Well, there's already been somethings that have been
implemented that I've liked.
I just said I'm huge oncommunication and with the
increased technology it has madeit easier to communicate with

(40:19):
family members and residents.
You know, now you could, byclick of a button, send them an
update.
You know, we're in Florida, sowe have a lot of storms and
hurricanes, so you can send abutton to say you know your,
your loved one, is safe.
I'll let you know if we go intogenerator mode.
Here's my cell phone if youneed anything.
So those kinds of things areexciting and I think to come

(40:41):
there might be just moreadvanced technology when it
comes to the equipment that weuse.
You know, have you ever been ona Hoyer lift?

Speaker 2 (40:50):
No, but I've used it to.

Speaker 1 (40:52):
It's not comfortable.
Yeah, I got you you know ifyou've ever sat on it and
imagine you're in your 90salready in pain you know, oh,
wow.
So things like that, the scrapsand just the weight, yeah,
ready in pain, you know, wow sothings like that and just the
way, yeah, okay, so I'm excitedfor you know, for more advanced
technology to uh make thequality of life for the
residents better that's reallygood yeah or even like the

(41:14):
mattresses.
You know just different stufflike that.
I feel like you kind of see itin other countries sometimes,
like on tiktok or whatnot rightso I'm excited to get that stuff
here.

Speaker 2 (41:29):
That's good.
That's good.
I think that's a need.
For sure is more advancement.
I think there's good companiesout there that's trying to do so
.
But again, you have to havefinancial assets right To be
able to sort of follow thoseadvancements and be able to
afford them, sort of followthose advancements and be able
to afford them.
My next question is it's aboutlaughter and learning, so this
is a topic here.

(41:49):
All right, so what is the mostunusual item you found in a
patient's room during acompliance check?

Speaker 1 (41:57):
A lot of funny ones.

Speaker 2 (41:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (42:00):
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 andsometimes they're there for a
reason where they might, youknow, be have some addictions.
Right, but I actually had a.
She was, I think, 96 or 97.
Um, I did call the policebecause I was like what am I

(42:31):
supposed to do?
And the police said I mean I'lltake the heroin, but uh he said
but, uh, it's up to you withwhat you want to do next.
Um, but she was just this happylady.
She had just admitted the daybefore and, uh, we were cleaning
and you know, explaining howthe stay is going to be, and she

(42:53):
was open about it.

Speaker 2 (42:55):
Wow.

Speaker 1 (42:55):
So I feel like that, just because of her age was the
most shocking.
But I mean, you see funny stuffall the time, all the time, man
, all the time I love theanimals, the fake ones.

Speaker 2 (43:07):
The ones that have the heartbeat, like the little
cat messing around.
I can't remember.

Speaker 1 (43:11):
Sometimes the babies scare me.
Oh yeah, Little babies, theolder ladies that have the
babies.
Those are a little scarysometimes, but I love the animal
ones.

Speaker 2 (43:19):
Yeah, the dog Like.
I had one activities director Iworked with I was just about to
call her name but she wouldbring her pets like dogs, and I
mean they used to line up at herdoor waiting.
So when she arrived in themorning they wanted to be first
and then hold the dog all daylong.
That's the most small littledog I ever seen.

Speaker 1 (43:40):
I actually have a great case study on that, Really
Also with those, and it's goodto ask questions and communicate
because your site providers alot of times they'll provide it
for the resident and it'scovered under the insurance.

Speaker 2 (43:51):
Wow.

Speaker 1 (43:52):
To provide those animals, not real ones, but the
fake ones for emotional supportEmotional support.
It's actually covered.

Speaker 2 (44:00):
That's really good.
All right, the next one is letme make sure I ask one that's
appropriate uh, if you couldturn uh one of your facilities
into a luxury spa for a day,what were some of the amenities?

Speaker 1 (44:19):
you would add.
Well, to be honest, we have Ihave some buildings that are
pretty luxurious really.
Oh yeah, some of them they arelike the ritz carlton, but we
try to provide the same amountof 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 doCNA, because then they can help

(44:41):
, but a person that's just oncall all the time so you can
press a button to say I needthis or I want this, or my
concierge I've always had aconcierge in every building I
think it's worth it.

Speaker 2 (44:52):
It is.

Speaker 1 (44:54):
Even if I say you have a budget of $200 this week
to buy this person out back orthis person a steak, or just to
make them feel like there'ssomething to look forward to, so
I would say that is somethingthat's invaluable.

Speaker 2 (45:08):
It is, and also that first initial introduction to
facilities as well.
So other leadership out thereskilled nursing facilities if
you can add that to your budgetof having a concierge, is
definitely worth it and theright one.
The right one.
Yes, A lot of times you havetenure staff that would fit in
that role in some cases,especially those individuals

(45:29):
that really just take ownershipand love where they work.
If you find wonderful CNAs orLPNs or as that case, but a lot
of times it's CNAs that willtake ownership of that role.
It's very important.
I agree with you.

Speaker 1 (45:44):
Yes, I feel like that's the most.
I think that's worth more thanhaving scented towels or cookies
up front, I think, havingsomebody you can just dial nine
and it goes straight to a realperson yes um, you know, I'm
scared, I'm hungry, I'm thirsty.
Uh, you know, can you help medial my daughter um?
Right somebody at yourfingertips.

(46:05):
That's really important and ifyou see, like hilton and maria,
all these hotels, they'restarting to do that yep, they
have concierge a whole littledisc over there.
Oh you get text messages now Ijust checked into maria and as
soon as I checked in I alreadygot hi.
My name is sharon and I'm here.

Speaker 2 (46:20):
I'm your concierge yeah, we've stayed at a recent
location as well and they had totext me oh, we need some more
towels yep, that's right away.

Speaker 1 (46:29):
That's very good you right.

Speaker 2 (46:31):
You're right to have that.
And then just think about theentry point to the facility.
Just having them knowing whereto 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 iscomfort and safety measures.
As a nurse home administrator,those are two vital points there

(46:55):
that we oversee, right.
What makes you serve better asa nurse home administrator in
regards to providing safety foryour residents, whether it was
you staying on top in regards tobeing educated and completing
your CEUs or what some of themeasures you took, you know, as

(47:16):
a nurse home administrator, toensure resident safety.

Speaker 1 (47:20):
First word that I think about is inclusion.
It's not just me asadministrators, everybody.
So we do have to have a safetycommittee and not just your
maintenance, your director ofnursing, your everybody.
I grab CNAs, I grab nurses,housekeeping, all of us we're
all going to get educated on thesubject and a lot of your
communities have the annualmeeting or quarterly meeting

(47:45):
with the police department, witheverybody.
Go to coalition meetings, jointhem so you can know what's new
and what's happening in thecommunity.

Speaker 2 (47:53):
So partner with like police, local police and fire
department and welcome them into whether there's a potluck
event that you're having or youknow, anything that you're
celebrating is really good toinclude.
You know those local emergencymanagement team you know.

Speaker 1 (48:11):
And, just you know, be friendly to them too.
They can help you.
Like, like I said, there'shurricanes were in Florida, so
send them messages, say, hey, myfacility is good, you don't
have to worry about us, we haveall supplies.
So if you'd like to come by,come by, but we are good here.
It really leaves an impact.

Speaker 2 (48:27):
Right, I learned about that just partnering with.
When I was in Polk County, likeI think they're in Lakeland, we
had a sort of a securityconcern at one of the facilities
.
And you know, if you don't havethe budget to pay for sort of
like security police officers tocome and monitor they had where
they had like a watch list youcan become, get on their watch

(48:53):
list and they'll have, you know,police officer in their area,
at least round at your facility.
But if you don't partner withthem or communicate, you never
know that that that's even anoption available.

Speaker 1 (49:01):
so um, even your department of health.
They have supplies there incase of an emergency too.

Speaker 2 (49:06):
Yes, just for that stuff yep, you're right,
department of health definitelya 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, ifyou watch this.
Thank you've had between justyou and your staff, because just

(49:35):
I always believe in operatingas a team and just having fun.
Just what are some of the funactivities or communications
that you would do with them?
So many, because you can learnright and provide education at
the same time.
That's probably my learningstyle, so that's why I just
assume everybody else is likethat.

Speaker 1 (49:54):
but yeah, um, so many .
To be honest, I like doingmonthly team building, so,
whether that's go bowling, goout for some wings um, there's
just so many.
Uh, doing funny gifts, likedoing the what's it called the
white elephant but, make it likefunny, it could be from the
dollar store, funny things,things, but it makes them laugh,
you know.

(50:14):
So I mean there's just, I havetoo many.

Speaker 2 (50:19):
I wasn't good with that Like for us, um, like
birthdays and stuff keepingtrack.
I was terrible doing that.
I would have, like my HR,someone else to like keep track.

Speaker 1 (50:28):
So I live by my calendar, so as soon as I go to
my building, I have hr give me alist and right then and there,
that first week I'm anadministrator, I put everybody's
birthday on my calendar that'sgood, so I just have it and, um,
it makes, it, makes it, makes adifference.
And I do have to say a lot ofadministrators forget this.

Speaker 2 (50:45):
Don't treat one differently than the other, I
know that's why I didn't want tokeep up with it.
I said you know you know what,if I do someone else's birthday
different, it's going to be justas you know.
I'm just stay out of it, noteven do it, but I'll let HR just
tell me, and then that's how Ido it.

Speaker 1 (51:00):
So I always just do the same thing or something
similar to make sure thateverybody feels special.

Speaker 2 (51:06):
You're watching out for that favoritism.

Speaker 1 (51:08):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 2 (51:09):
Yeah, you do that Okay.
So thank you for sharing that.
That's really good.
My next question for you is inregards to just building a team.
So if you go into facility, Ithink one thing that I feel like
is very impactful for anyorganization, not just for
skilled nursing, is having ateam there and be able to build

(51:32):
continuity with each other,understanding how each of the
scrum suits, understanding ourpractices, how we work together
and gel together.
But a lot of times in skillednursing you don't get that time
to do it.

Speaker 1 (51:46):
You have to prioritize it.
I would say I've been veryfortunate to say that I've had
just incredible teams.
I wouldn't have any of mysuccess without my teams.
No you do have to build on it,you know.
You have to ensure that youknow what this person is like,
this person doesn't like, andmake sure that you empower all
your individuals to make surethat they know that they're a

(52:08):
contributing factor in thiscommunity.
Yes, so I can't do this withoutyou, right?
So everybody has their role inthe village.

Speaker 2 (52:14):
You're right, one hundred percent.
So if you have a newadministrator right coming in to
a new role 24 years old, yourDOA has been there 20 years.
She's 52.
Your ADOA might be 45.
Unit manager I'm just throwingnumber ages out here.

(52:34):
But you're 24 years, 25 yearsold and you're leading this team
.

Speaker 1 (52:40):
Yep and I dealt with that.
I dealt with this all the time.
I would have to say justmaintain professionalism at all
times, because everybody'salways looking at you.
So you just have to make surethat you're being professional
at all times, becauseeverybody's always looking at
you.
So you just have to make surethat you're being professional
all times and remember that youhave very skilled, educated
executives in your building.

(53:00):
You don't have to try tomicromanage everything, like
look to see what's going right,what needs improvement, and then
pivot from there.
You know, just because you'regoing to a building doesn't mean
well, I have to see whatnursing's doing.
Nursing might be fine.
So that DON that's been therefor 20 years her last survey was
maybe one or two citations.

(53:20):
You should know that you don'thave to be up that person's back
, you know, see what you cancontribute to the facility and
go from there.
And I think that's something alot of administrators kind of do
wrong.
They say I'm going to go inthere and be the boss or shake
some things up, when you don'talways have to do that.
You know you have to reallyobserve and pivot from there.

Speaker 2 (53:43):
Right.
My initial presentation to myevery facility I started was I
don't have, like this, alreadycreated team that I'm bringing.

Speaker 1 (53:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (53:52):
No, if you're good, you do your job and work.
I can work with anybody.
I feel as long as you'rewilling I say as long as you're
willing, willing to work hard,willing to adapt, uh, willing to
be dedicated you're gonna behere I've always said I've never
fired anybody, they firedthemselves yeah, that's a good
one too, that's true.

(54:13):
So I have some surprisequestions for you.
We'll get to that now If I gethere in my phone, all right, so
the first question is that's myanswer.
You have five seconds to answer.
If you could go on a date withany celebrity, who would it be?

(54:34):
Jesus Christ, yeah, yeah, ohman, I didn't think you was
playing Jesus Christ.
Yeah, but that's going to belike a.

Speaker 1 (54:45):
All right, you're going to do a two-part of a date
.

Speaker 2 (54:46):
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 whatjesus dating jesus would be like
, all right, probably barackobama.
Barack obama, yeah, you thinkbarack obama smokes cx?
All right, so, uh, I might haveto take that out, huh, but uh,
so, carter, be your carter, beyour beyonce um.

Speaker 1 (55:11):
For what?

Speaker 2 (55:11):
just music, wise or Beyonce, for what?

Speaker 1 (55:13):
Just music-wise.
I don't know Music If I'm atthe gym.
Cardi B, cardi B okay.
Beyonce, if I'm with my family.

Speaker 2 (55:21):
All right, got you Chicken or seafood, seafood,
seafood.

Speaker 1 (55:27):
You don't like chicken?
I do like chicken, but I don'tlike to cook it Really I cook
seafood, but you don't likechicken, I do like chicken but I
don't like to cook it Really.

Speaker 2 (55:33):
I cook seafood.

Speaker 1 (55:33):
But you don't cook fried chicken?

Speaker 2 (55:34):
Oh yeah, okay, but you don't like to cook it
because you got to clean thechicken.
What part is it?
I don't like that.
I love chicken.
What you got against chicken.

Speaker 1 (55:42):
You know what it's.
The smell I don't know why I'mreally weird with as an
administrator.
They all know this.
Really, I have such a sensitivenose.
It's really really sensitive.
You would think seafood grossesme out, but there's something
about the chicken smell.

Speaker 2 (55:56):
Really Okay.

Speaker 1 (55:58):
I got to put a lot of lemon, clean it real good,
because I'll gag.

Speaker 2 (56:01):
Yeah, I use white distilled vinegar, lime and
baking soda too.

Speaker 1 (56:14):
I use baking soda a lot.
I'm so finicky that even at mybuildings there's some flowers
you can't buy.
I I got a sensitive nose.

Speaker 2 (56:18):
I'm just saying, okay , uh, tim mcgraw or elvis
presley tim mcgraw, uh jackiechan or bruce lee firstly,
that's okay, biggie, or tupac,tupac, all right.

Speaker 1 (56:35):
Boxing or MMA.

Speaker 2 (56:35):
Probably MMA, mma, really you like seeing all that
blood.

Speaker 1 (56:40):
You use more of your body.

Speaker 2 (56:42):
All right, you have two choices here.
You miss work for a month, nopay, or you missed a shower for
a month.

Speaker 1 (57:00):
Which one.

Speaker 2 (57:00):
Do you choose, I guess?

Speaker 1 (57:00):
missed work Missed work.

Speaker 2 (57:01):
okay, I got that one Five shots of tequila or three
Long Islands.

Speaker 1 (57:07):
I don't really drink.

Speaker 2 (57:09):
You got to choose one for the game.
I can't take shots, so it hasto be a Long.

Speaker 1 (57:10):
Island, a Long Island .
All right, I don't really drink.
You got to choose from a bunchof things.
I can't take shots, so it hasto be a Long Island.

Speaker 2 (57:12):
A Long Island, all right.
I don't drink One food or dishthat you would eat every single
day.

Speaker 1 (57:21):
Pasta probably.

Speaker 2 (57:22):
Pasta.

Speaker 1 (57:22):
Mm-hmm, or like Spanish food I eat.

Speaker 2 (57:25):
Spanish food every day.
Why?
Because you can mix the saucesand stuff like that, no, and
stuff like that no, I just likeit.

Speaker 1 (57:29):
I would say, Spanish food maybe.

Speaker 2 (57:31):
Spanish food, okay, and what's something that pisses
you off?

Speaker 1 (57:35):
Judgmental people.

Speaker 2 (57:36):
Judgmental people.
Okay, that's a good one.

Speaker 1 (57:39):
It really does, really.

Speaker 2 (57:42):
All right, and last one.
What is your favorite song?

Speaker 1 (57:50):
Of all time.

Speaker 2 (57:51):
All time Favorite song and you can sing a little
piece of it?

Speaker 1 (57:58):
um, I would say it's a spanish song.
It's called luna by annagabriel.
How does it go can I just playit?

Speaker 2 (58:05):
from my phone.
I'll translate it how aboutthat.

Speaker 1 (58:10):
It's like moon.
You see him tell him that Imiss him.

Speaker 2 (58:15):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (58:16):
That's in Spanish, though.

Speaker 2 (58:17):
In Spanish probably sounds so good.

Speaker 1 (58:20):
It's mariachi.

Speaker 2 (58:21):
Really Okay, that's good.
Well, mariella, this was agreat conversation.
I think you definitely shedlight on things that a lot of
people.
I was looking at one producerhere 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'swhy I wanted to again interview

(58:43):
you.
It's a blessing again to haveyou Any last words you want to
have for the audience at all.

Speaker 1 (58:49):
Yeah, if you want to use me as a resource resource
and I say this to everybody it'son my LinkedIn.
I have my actual cell phonenumber on my LinkedIn because I
am passionate to help the newcommunity, whether that is being
an administrator somewhere inthe middle and health field.
I have some friends that havetransitioned to a hospital
administrator, or that havetransitioned and said maybe
marketing is more my thing, orgot into law, or that have

(59:12):
transitioned and said maybemarketing's more my thing, or
got into law.

Speaker 2 (59:16):
So I'd like to be that liaison if you need any
assistance with that.
Yes, and she does respond.
She does respond and toeverybody else on the internet
that don't respond to me, sheresponds.

Speaker 1 (59:25):
I would say I might not respond right away, but
eventually she responds.

Speaker 2 (59:28):
Yes, Thank you.
Thank you for tuning in toanother episode of let's get
comfy podcast.
Please become a comfy listener.
Please stay tuned, uh, as we'llbe having additional episodes
and other contents on thepodcast the let's get comfy
podcast on youtube, so pleasesubscribe, like and comment.

(59:48):
Our episodes will be droppingbi-weekly.
Be on the lookout for all ofour content.
When you look at it, hit thelike button.
That means a lot to me.
It means a lot to the support.
Thank you so much.
Peace.