This episode dives into one of the biggest frustrations in physical therapy: feeling unheard at work. Rebecca Griffith breaks down how to communicate with leadership, advocate for patients, and avoid being labeled “difficult.”

Key Insights:

• Most leadership decisions are system-driven, not personal

• Curiosity beats criticism in tough conversations

• Timing, tone, and delivery matter as much as the message

• Not all feedback moments are created equal

• Small organizations allow more personalized communication

What This Means for PTs & Clinic Owners:

• You can advocate without damaging relationships

• Better communication leads to more influence—not less

• Understanding the system helps you navigate it

• Emotional reactions can sabotage valid concerns

• Leadership communication is a learnable skill

Tactical Takeaways:

• Ask: “Help me understand the goal of this decision”

• Write questions first—don’t react in the moment

• Clarify: is this decision final or open for input?

• Choose the right time and setting for feedback

• Focus on system impact—not just personal impact

Guest

Rebecca Griffith, PT, DPT

Sponsors

SaRA Health – patient engagement solutions

EMPOWER EMR – faster, smarter documentation

U.S. Physical Therapy – clinic growth and career pathways

This episode explores how AI, business strategy, and human relationships intersect in physical therapy—and what clinic owners should actually do about it.

Key Insights:

• AI can scale listening and communication—but not human connection

• In-person relationships still drive referrals and business growth

• Other industries (sports, retail) are winning by owning attention and data

• PT clinics are sitting on valuable data but not using it strategically

• Partnerships and distribution matter more than tactics

What This Means for PT Owners:

• Use AI to enhance—not replace—patient communication

• Double down on in-person referral relationships

• Look outside healthcare for business models that work

• Start leveraging your EMR data beyond billing

Guest Links & Resources

Tony Maritato YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TotalTherapySolutions

Dave Kittle YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDaveKittleShow

Sponsors

SaRA Health – helps automate patient engagement and improve outcomes

EMPOWER EMR – faster documentation and better workflows

U.S. Physical Therapy – career growth and clinic support

This episode breaks down how AI is being used inside real physical therapy clinics—not as hype, but as a tool to improve operations.

The biggest mistake clinics make is treating AI like a feature instead of building it into workflows. When

Sal Aprea from Flagler Health shows you that done right, AI helps reduce no-shows, improves patient engagement, and creates new revenue opportunities without adding staff.

Key Insights:

• AI fails when it feels like “extra work”
• Clinics must focus on workflow, not tools
• Trust drives adoption: staff → patients → operations
• RTM is underused because no one owns it operationally
• Done right, AI improves the patient journey between visits

Guest shares how clinics can:

• Increase patient follow-through
• Improve operational efficiency
• Add revenue streams through RTM
• Build trust with both staff and patients