Pt Pintcast

Insurance runs out. Patients still need care. Now what?Melanie Brennan built a nonprofit neuro recovery gym to solve exactly that problem.After seeing patients decline post-discharge from traditional rehab settings, Melanie launched EA Therapeutic Health — a hybrid model blending:Insurance-based PTCash-based extended recovery sessionsPersonal trainers + rec therapists alongside PTsFundraising + grants to subsidize costCommunity-based nonprofit structureNow with 24 employees and a 10,000-square-foot facility, she’s proving private practice isn’t just for orthopedics.Key TopicsWhy payment is PT’s root issueNonprofit conversion strategyBlending insurance and cash ethicallyState-level advocacy vs national reformCollective action with OT and speechServing underserved communities sustainablyGuest InfoEA Therapeutic Health https://chooseea.org

PTs Belong in Disaster Response — Here’s How to Step InDisasters don’t discriminate. They impact hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, schools, and communities.Yet physical therapists are rarely included in disaster planning or emergency response operations.In this episode, Megan Mitchell breaks down:• Why disasters are increasing in frequency • Where PTs are currently underutilized • The musculoskeletal reality of disaster injuries • Why you can’t “just show up” during an emergency • How to engage your hospital or clinic’s emergency manager • The difference between “lessons learned” and “lessons applied” • One immediate action step every PT should takeKey Takeaway:Preparedness is part of professional responsibility. If you’re licensed and trained, you already have relevant skills. The profession must proactively claim its seat at the table.Resources Mentioned• PT & PTA Emergency and Disaster Response Action Plan (APTA) • University of Colorado AnschutzSponsors• EMPOWER EMR • SaRA Health • U.S. Ph

Most physical therapy clinic owners have been told the same story:Spend 5–10% of revenue on marketing.Run Facebook ads.Buy Google traffic.Outspend competitors.But what if that advice is wrong?Live from CSM, Jimmy and Sturdy McKee break down a back-to-basics approach to clinic growth that doesn’t rely on ad spend — it relies on relationships.What You’ll Learn:Why patients don’t buy healthcare on FacebookHow primary care physicians see 20–40% MSK cases weeklyWhy referrals are still the most powerful growth channelHow small, consistent gestures outperform “wow baskets”The psychology behind handwritten notesWhy tracking relationships matters more than tracking ad clicksWhat clinic owners lose when growth becomes the only goalThis episode is for PTs and clinic owners who want sustainable growth without sacrificing margin or humanity.

Emergency Department PT, Top-of-Scope Mindset & Reigniting Your CareerRecorded live at CSM, Jimmy sits down with Rebekah Griffith, PT, DPT, to talk about the growth of physical therapy in the emergency department — and what it takes to bring it into your hospital.In This Episode:What “Top of Scope” really means (mindset + skillset)Why ED PT jobs aren’t widespread yetHow to pitch ED PT to hospital leadership (do a PT eval on the hospital)Specialist vs generalist debate in acute careWhy conferences can reignite your professional energyHow networking creates lifelong career relationshipsRebecca shares a practical framework for introducing ED PT services:Evaluate your hospital like a patientIdentify impairments and participation restrictionsAlign PT value with what matters to leadershipSet measurable goalsThis episode is about expanding what’s possible in your career — and protecting the future of the profession.SponsorsThis episode is brought to you by:SaRA HealthEMPOWER EMRU.S. Physical Therapy (USPH)

PT Is Political — And That’s Not OptionalRecorded live at APTA CSM, this conversation tackles one uncomfortable truth: physical therapy operates inside a political healthcare system.If you ignore policy, reimbursement, or structural access issues, you're still affected by them.In This Episode:Why research feels intimidating (and why it shouldn’t)How curiosity fuels better patient careThe policy gaps affecting farmworker communitiesWhy students must engage in health systems earlyWhat success looks like in five years for the next generation of PTsWhy This Matters for Clinic OwnersPolicy decisions shape reimbursementAccess gaps affect your patient populationAdvocacy protects long-term sustainabilityStudents entering the profession expect leadership in this spaceSponsorsSaRA HealthEMPOWER EMRU.S. Physical Therapy (USPH)

Episode OverviewLive from APTA CSM in Anaheim, Jimmy talks with Nicole O’Neill from U.S. Physical Therapy about what USPH actually is—and why most PTs don’t realize they’ve probably seen one of their clinics.USPH partners with 135+ locally branded physical therapy practices across 44 states, providing national operational support while allowing clinics to maintain their identity.This episode breaks down what that model looks like for:New gradsExperienced cliniciansClinic owners exploring partnershipPTs who want growth without burnoutKey TopicsThe USPH partnership modelMaintaining local brand autonomyNational support for payroll, benefits, recruitingEmployer branding in physical therapyWhy USPH is investing in visibility at CSM“Grow With USPH” — what it meansAbout U.S. Physical TherapyU.S. Physical Therapy is a national network supporting local PT clinics with financial, administrative, and operational infrastructure—so clinicians can focus on patient care and leadership development.Learn more: ???? https://us

Visibility Is Not Optional AnymoreIf you’re a physical therapist or clinic owner relying on reputation alone, you’re already behind.This episode covers:Why simple LinkedIn polls outperform complex contentThe lesson behind viral cultural momentsRepurposing one idea across multiple formatsHow AI session analytics can improve therapist performanceWhy frequency beats perfectionThe “fifth executive role” PT organizations are missing (communications)How to build earned attention instead of buying exposureKey Takeaway:Trust is built downstream of earned attention. If people don’t see you, they don’t trust you.Guest LinksDave KittleYouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@thedavekittleshow/featuredWebsite → https://conciergepainrelief.comTony MaritatoYouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/MedicareBilling

Can social media realistically generate revenue for physical therapists?In this episode, Jimmy talks with Tony Maritato about:Growing from 2,000 to 60,000+ followers in one yearTurning patient education into monetized contentWhy reposting “old” videos worksHow one Facebook post generated $107 repeatedlyWhy engagement (not followers) is the real metricThe shift back toward in-person, analog attentionTony explains how he captures patient interactions during treatment (with consent), posts directly from his phone, and uses AI tools to analyze performance — without hiring staff or building a production studio.If you’re a clinic owner, this matters because:$2,000/month offsets overheadOrganic reach builds trust before a patient callsYou’re already creating content — you’re just not recording itKey TakeawaysYour daily clinical work is valuable contentReposting strong content is not penalizedEngagement beats follower countSimplicity scalesAttention must be earned

AI Is Not a Silver BulletRecorded live at APTA CSM, Todd Norwood joins the show to talk about AI, digital health, and why physical therapy clinics need to fix their data before chasing the next shiny tech solution.What We Cover:The difference between good data and bad data in PTWhy “ish” measurements don’t scale in an AI worldHow to evaluate AI scribes and clinic toolsImposter syndrome in leadership and tech transitionsHow PT skills translate into digital health rolesUsing AI to assess your resume against job descriptionsWhy investing in yourself beats any market investmentKey TakeawayGood data is foundational to making the most of AI and digital innovation in physical therapy.GuestTodd NorwoodPT in Digital Health

Better Systems, Not Tougher PeopleBurnout in healthcare isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a design problem.Dr. Lisa Flexner joins PT Pintcast live from APTA CSM to break down why:Burnout is an individual response to system dysfunctionProductivity is often the wrong performance metricTurnover costs far more than 1.5x salaryBelonging is a foundational performance driverPizza parties don’t fix structural problemsHealthcare still operates inside outdated hierarchy modelsIf you're leading a clinic and wondering why retention is harder, morale feels fragile, or productivity pressure keeps increasing — this episode reframes the issue from something personal to something structural.Key TakeawaysBurnout shows up in individuals, but starts in systemsIndirect turnover costs often double or triple salary impactBelonging and shared mission drive productivity more than pressureMeasuring employee net promoter score (eNPS) may be more predictive than productivityHealthcare needs a “Flexner Report 2.0” to move toward collabora

Proactive Care Is a Pathway — Not a SloganPT is built for prevention.But most of healthcare still waits until pain shows up.In this episode recorded live at CSM in Anaheim, Dr. Tatiana Olevsky discusses:Why patients still go to MDs first for MSK painThe public awareness gap around direct accessHow PTs can shift from reactive rehab to proactive performanceWhy outcomes — not visit counts — should define our valueLessons from Pilates and community-buildingMovement analysis as a preventative toolWhy PT is at an inflection pointKey TakeawaysPrioritize quality over quantityScreen upstream before pain becomes diagnosisBuild rapport before educationShow patients the future, don’t just prescribe sets and repsIf PT wants to be first-line, we must earn itGuest InfoDr. Tatiana Olevsky Spine PT Fellow | Private Practice Owner | Educator

Live from CSM Anaheim, Jimmy sits down with Matt Huey, PT, to talk about what really moves the physical therapy profession forward.The conversation centers on engagement.Not national outrage. Not social media complaints. Real, local involvement.Key themes:Why member engagement starts at the state levelProtecting scope of practiceWhy trust can’t be boughtThe real ROI of conferencesHow mentorship creates professional legacyPassing a “little piece of you” to every student you trainThe takeaway:If you want the profession to improve, you have to show up.

Live from APTA CSM in Anaheim, Jimmy talks with Dr. Jenn Bell about redefining professionalism in physical therapy.They discuss:Where traditional professional norms came fromWho those norms disproportionately impactWhy authenticity affects burnoutWhy recruitment without belonging failsThe shift from diversity → equity → inclusion → belongingWhat PTs must let go of to evolveIf your clinic wants to recruit and retain strong clinicians, this conversation matters.Key TakeawaysProfessionalism has historically centered a narrow identity standard.Underrepresented clinicians carry extra cognitive load when asked to “code switch.”Burnout is worsened when clinicians can’t show up authentically.Recruiting diversity without creating belonging is performative.PT leaders must examine their own biases and expectations.

Advocacy Isn’t Optional—It’s Your ResponsibilityIn this episode, Jimmy talks with Jim Leahy, longtime lobbyist and association executive serving nine APTA chapters across the country.Jim has spent over 30 years inside the machinery of healthcare policy. His message is clear:If you’re not involved in advocacy, you’re gambling with your profession—and your patients.What You’ll Learn:Why state legislators control your scope of practiceWhy most PT Hill Days send the wrong messageHow just 10 emails can influence a lawmakerWhy payment reform requires more than legislationHow prior authorization laws are shiftingWhy relationships matter more than argumentsThe difference between activity and achievementKey Takeaways:Advocacy isn’t hard—but it takes commitmentLegislators notice small numbers of engaged constituentsPayment reform must include legislative, administrative, and insurer-level strategiesIf you don’t advocate, others will define your profession

Recorded live from CSM, this episode features Jake Irwin, PT, DPT — professor, athletics PT, private practice owner, and APTA delegate.The conversation covers:Why seasoned PTs still attend CSMHow to approach conferences strategicallyThe real value of networkingUsing AI to navigate conference programmingThe uncomfortable truth about home exercise complianceJake delivers a strong parting shot:When patients don’t get better because they didn’t follow their home program — that’s not their fault. That’s yours.This episode challenges clinicians to choose growth over blame.

Do It Differently or Die: A Wake-Up Call for PT OwnersLive from CSM, Jimmy talks with Eric Fernandez from Hyperice about the uncomfortable realities facing outpatient physical therapy.What We Cover:The three-year journey behind the Nike x Hyperice recovery shoeWhy AI and efficiency won’t save a broken business modelWhy PTs must start thinking like consumer brandsThe importance of lifecycle care and long-term valueWhy wellness companies are winning cash-based dollarsThe danger of waiting for insurance companies to “fix it”The mindset shift clinic owners must makeKey TakeawayThe system is perfectly designed to produce the results you’re currently getting. If you don’t like the results, rebuild the system.GuestEric Fernandez – Hyperice https://hyperice.com

Physical therapy research may feel invisible — but it protects reimbursement, strengthens professional credibility, and ensures long-term growth.In this episode, Jimmy talks with Becky Craik about:The mission of the Foundation for Physical Therapy ResearchHow a $10,000 seed grant can turn into millions in federal fundingWhy funding interruptions damage entire research teamsThe importance of cost-effectiveness researchThe Marquette Challenge and engaging the next generationWhy “Don’t make enemies” might be the best professional advice you’ll hearIf you believe in evidence-based practice, this episode explains why ongoing research funding matters to every PT — whether you work in a clinic or academia.

Milica McDowell, DPT — clinic owner, professor, and now AVP of Education at USPH — joins Jimmy live from APTA CSM to make a bold claim:Most PTs are recommending the wrong shoes.In this episode:Why 10,000 steps is marketing, not medicineThe real step counts tied to longevity and mental healthWhy tapered toe boxes weaken feetThe concept of the “24-hour shoe clock”Why cushioned shoes in clinic may be a clinical liabilityIf you're a PT who cares about mobility, longevity, and biomechanics, this conversation matters.Milica’s Core MessageFunctional footwear is not a fashion preference.It’s a biomechanical responsibility.Resources???? Walk (Releases May 5, 2026) ???? milicamcdowell.com Follow: @gaithappens | @altrarunning | @vivobarefoot

Mastery Before MarketingIn this episode of PT Pintcast, Jimmy talks with Lewis Lupowitz, sports physical therapist and founder of Longevity Physical Therapy & Performance.Lewis brings a strong perspective:There’s a mentorship problem in physical therapy — and it’s being disguised as an entrepreneurship movement.Key Topics Covered:Why new grads shouldn’t rush to open a clinicThe difference between clinical confidence and branding confidenceHow to become a good menteeWhy “better is better” in rehabYouth sports over-specializationNeurocognitive training in return-to-sport rehabCreating an environment patients want to return toMajor TakeawaysOwning a business is hard. Being a great clinician inside that business is harder.Mentorship isn’t automatic — you must position yourself to earn it.Strength and ROM alone are not enough for return to sport.Fancy tools don’t replace clinical reasoning.The fastest way to build a successful clinic is becoming excellent first.Guest LinksLewis Lupowitz???? https://longevitypt

A Decade Under the InfluenceFaith Stokes takes over the mic at CSM and interviews Jimmy McKay about 10 years of PT Pintcast.This episode covers:Why reimbursement is the profession’s defining issueHow students may drive the next innovation waveThe Costa Rica wheelchair fundraiser storyWhat APTA could do differentlyWhy PT must embrace visibility and communicationThe difference between communicating and being understoodThe Line That Sticks:Science isn’t finished until it’s understood.If you’re a PT, clinic owner, or healthcare leader trying to protect trust and earn attention in your market — this episode matters.Sponsors MentionedSaRA HealthEMPOWER EMRU.S. Physical Therapy