Why Physical Therapy Must Fight for Its Future — and How You Can Help

Nick Patel returns to the PT Pintcast to break down the critical policy battles facing physical therapists, including the SAFE Act (H.R. 1171) to prevent falls and opioid use, Medicare reimbursement cuts, and the broader threats to PT's future workforce. If you think advocacy is someone else’s job — think again. Nick lays out what’s at stake, how individual PTs can get involved, and why organizations must step up.Resources & Links:Learn more about APTQI: https://www.aptqi.com/SAFE Act H.R. 1171 Info: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1171Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act H.R. 879 Info: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/879Connect with Jimmy McKay:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mckay-pt-dpt-a4207659/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptpintcastSubscribe and Support the Show:Apple Podcasts: Subscribe on AppleSpotify: Subscribe on SpotifyYouTube: Subscribe on YouTube

From treating athletes at Nike HQ to co-founding one of Southern California’s most trusted women’s health clinics, Dr. Dawn Andalon’s journey is anything but ordinary.In this episode of the PT Pintcast 6-Pack, we sit down with Dr. Dawn Andalon, a physical therapist, author, speaker, and entrepreneur behind LEVEL4 PT & Pilates. Dawn shares how she went from clinician to CEO, building a brand rooted in evidence-based care, Pilates integration, pelvic health, and women’s empowerment.We unpack her transition from treating elite athletes to focusing on postpartum and peri/menopausal care, how she scaled her private practice in a competitive market, and the real-life challenges of building a business while raising a family.This conversation is packed with insights for PTs who are ready to niche down, expand their impact, or build a purpose-driven brand from scratch.

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Dr. Rebecca Griffith (aka @theEDDPT) for a real-deal conversation on what it means to practice at the top of your scope—without losing yourself. They explore how PTs can use tools like ChatGPT to reduce stress, how the “Let Them” mindset (popularized by Mel Robbins) helps with boundaries in life and work, and why celebrating excellence is just as important as mentoring others.Topics Covered:The power of curiosity in trauma-informed careStudying for advanced PT certs with ChatGPTRethinking productivity: AI as your personal assistantLetting go of what you can’t control (and focusing on what you can)The StrengthsFinders personality framework in team dynamicsPT leadership: how to lead, teach, and not burn outGuest:Dr. Rebecca Griffith, PT, DPT, NCS, EdDInstagram: @theEDDPT

What makes a PT clinic thrive — or tank — in today’s healthcare landscape? This episode tackles the uncomfortable truths many physical therapy business owners avoid: emotional decision-making, misaligned compensation, and why the loudest voices online aren’t always the most successful offline.Join Jimmy, Dave, and Tony as they unpack real-world problems from practice ownership, leadership, and team dynamics, plus a sneak peek at a new community-powered segment: “Profitability Problems.”

Why are PT wages so low—and more importantly, who’s responsible?In this episode of the PT Pintcast 6-Pack, we’re joined by Matt Huey, a physical therapist, powerlifter, and healthcare humorist, who isn’t afraid to ask the uncomfortable questions. With five Texas state powerlifting records under his belt and a serious passion for wage transparency, Matt breaks down the forces behind stagnant PT pay—and what we as a profession can do about it.This one’s for the PTs and PTAs wondering if it’s the APTA, the government, or just us holding the paycheck hostage.Expect real talk, some laughs, and ideas you haven’t heard before on how to actually shift this conversation—and your income.

Are we being paid fairly for what we deliver?Join Jimmy McKay, Dave Kittle, and Tony Maritato for a no-holds-barred discussion on:Manual therapy vs. movement-based reimbursementHow Medicare defines (and limits) valueCharging patients for actual premium care — from certifications to techThe tension between doing more and being paid lessAction figures, AI-generated branding, and your role as a “healthcare hero”What We Talked About:Should PTs be charging for everything “above the minimum standard of care”?Is it ethical (or legal) to offer premium services on top of insurance-covered plans?How to avoid the burnout that comes from over-delivering and under-chargingThe difference between running a practice and running a charityLinks & Mentions:

You’ve heard the buzz about digital health, but what if we told you telehealth PT isn’t just a pandemic stopgap—it’s a powerful tool for clinical transformation?In this episode of the PT Pintcast 6-Pack, we tap into the mind of Hali Jones, a physical therapist-turned-health-tech strategist at ViFive, who’s making virtual care smarter, cooler, and way more effective than you think. From objective compliance tracking to geriatric engagement, Hali unpacks six surprising truths about telehealth PT—and why clinicians need to stop sleeping on this massive opportunity.Whether you’re a clinic owner, tech-curious PT, or just wondering how to future-proof your practice, this conversation is a goldmine of insight, research, and practical next steps.And yes—there’s actual data behind all of this.

What do cash-based PT, YouTube algorithms, and manual therapy have in common? For Dr. David Middaugh — everything.In this episode of the PT Pintcast 6-Pack, we sit down with Dr. David Middaugh, a manual physical therapist turned YouTube sensation, who’s helping thousands of people worldwide avoid surgery, injections, and medications through accessible video education and hands-on expertise.David runs El Paso Manual Physical Therapy, a thriving cash-based PT practice, and has grown his YouTube channel to over 600,000 subscribers — all while raising four kids (and homeschooling them!). He opens up about building his business from the ground up, the messy middle of digging out of debt, and why YouTube is the meritocracy PTs didn’t know they needed.If you’ve ever thought about leaving insurance behind, scaling your practice, or launching a YouTube channel to expand your impact — this is your episode.

What if your physical therapy clinic could spin off its own startups? In this episode, we dive deep with Dave Kittle on how PT owners can build businesses inside their business, sell them, and scale smarter—not harder.We cover:How Dave builds $250k revenue micro-businesses within his practiceThe truth about practice valuations and owner transitionsLead generation as a cooperative effort among local clinicsStructuring acquisitions to avoid post-sale disastersThe emotional marketing genius behind his $499 post-op offerWhy runners don't want you to fix their pain—and what they actually want insteadWhether you're looking to sell your practice, acquire another, or build a lean cash-based empire, this episode is a blueprint for PT entrepreneurship in 2025.

What if your fitness journey wasn’t about fixing, shrinking, or grinding… but about reclaiming joy in movement? In this bold and empowering episode of PT Pintcast’s 6-Pack series, we sit down with Dr. Marcia Dernie (she/they)—a physical therapist, strength athlete, yoga teacher, and disabled Black creative—who’s rewriting the script on what movement can and should look like.As the founder of @MoveWithMarcia and co-host of the @DisabledGirlsWhoLift podcast, Dr. Marcia brings a revolutionary lens to the PT world—focusing not on pathologizing bodies, but empowering them. In this episode, we unpack the harm of healthism, deconstruct the fitness industrial complex, and explore what it truly means to make movement accessible for every body.