Agile&Me: A physical therapy leadership podcast series

Let's wrap the year with a look back on the challenges, developments, and momentum that the physical therapy profession encountered in 2025. Alliance Physical Therapy Partners CEO Richard Leaver talks with Team Rehab CEO Nick Weber, in this final episode of the year.

In this episode, you'll join the conversation about:

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

On this episode of Agile&Me, host Richard Leaver is joined by Nick Patel, Executive Director of the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI), to discuss the evolving landscape of advocacy in physical therapy. Nick shares insights from his eight years of leadership at APTQI, the challenges faced by the industry, and the strides made toward creating a stronger, unified voice for the profession.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

How do we train this generation of PT students? What is being asked of them that our Clinical Instructors need to recognize? How do I connect with young people in my clinic?

If you're asking any of these questions, this episode is for you. Ashlee Butler, PT works across the country to help bridge the gap between academic knowledge and clinical competencies. She joins Richard today to share insights about the needs of students and CIs for how to be successful in the clinical placement process.

To learn more about us, visit our website at...

In this episode of Agile&Me, Ryan Buckley joins Richard Leaver to get real about the pressures and opportunities for outpatient physical therapy clinics in 2025 and 2026.

There's real reason to be optimistic about the coming months and years as practices adopt new technology and look forward to rebounding demand for patients.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this episode of Agile&Me, guest expert Jason Wambold shares valuable insights on variable compensation models in outpatient physical therapy, exploring how these flexible pay structures can boost therapist satisfaction, support recruitment and retention, and benefit clinic owners. 

Tune in to learn practical strategies and real-world examples that highlight the advantages of offering compensation choices for therapists and fostering a supportive, thriving work environment.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

Clinic Director Jordan Finger interviews our CEO, Richard Leaver, in a role-reversing conversation! Explore Richard’s journey from the UK to the US healthcare system, the evolving role of physical therapists, and how strong culture drives sustainable success. Packed with leadership insights and industry expertise, this is a must-listen for healthcare professionals and leaders.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this episode of Agile&Me, host Richard Leaver chats with Marla Ranieri, VP of Clinical Excellence at Prompt Therapy Solutions, about AI’s transformative role in physical therapy. Marla shares her journey from physical therapist to innovator, exploring how AI technologies improve clinical practices. They discuss how AI tackles challenges like clinician burnout and reimbursement complexities while addressing concerns about data accuracy and compliance. Tune in to discover how AI is shaping the future of healthcare, enhancing patient care, and offering practical tools for integrating AI into physical therapy practices.

To learn more about us, visit ou...

Staying HIPAA compliant isn’t just about privacy anymore; it’s about keeping up with evolving technology and industry standards. On this episode of Agile and Me, Richard Leaver chats with Tiffany Warden, a certified healthcare compliance expert, to break down the complexities of HIPAA in today’s fast-changing healthcare landscape.  

Packed with real-world examples and expert advice, this episode is essential for healthcare professionals navigating compliance. Get ready for the 2025 HIPAA amendments and learn how to turn compliance into a strength.  

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

Duration: 00:47:32

Welcome to episode two of our two-part series on credentialing, with expert Christine Mulder. In this episode, Christine delves into the past, present, and future of credentialing in outpatient physical therapy services, offering deep insights into changes pre and post-COVID.

Join us as we explore the digital submission challenges, the role of third-party credentialing entities, the differences in requirements among various payers, and the potential of software in credentialing. We also discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing credentialing services, and the impact on independent practitioners. Stay ahead of the curve as we navigate the future of...

In this episode of Agile&Me, host Richard Leaver, CEO of Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, is joined by credentialing expert Christine Mulder, who brings over 12 years of experience in managing credentialing and enrollment for outpatient therapy providers. Together, they dive into the often-overlooked, yet vital, world of credentialing in outpatient therapy practices. This is part one of a two-part series, so stay tuned for more insights.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

Dive into a riveting conversation between two physical therapy thought leaders, Richard Leaver and Michelle Collie, as they navigate the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in the outpatient therapy services sector. This episode offers an insider's perspective on some pressing issues like employee value proposition, reimbursement challenges, staffing shortages, and the imperative of expense control. Hear from Michelle Collie, the CEO of High Bar Physical Therapy, as she gives insights based on her journey in the field. Get a glimpse of what the future holds for outpatient therapy as we inch towards 2025, with discussions on technology integration, innovation...

Welcome to another insightful episode of Agile&Me, the podcast for leaders in physical therapy. In this episode, we address the critical issue of clinician turnover with expert guests Wayne Shaw, a seasoned practice owner with 30+ years of experience, and Jamie Farkas, a senior HR leader at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners.

Discover the real costs of clinician turnover, including recruitment and training expenses, and the impact on team morale and clinic operations. Wayne and Jamie provide expert insights into the economic impacts and share effective retention strategies to maintain a thriving workplace culture. Their discussion offers valuable...

For our 50th episode of Agile&Me, Richard Leaver dives into a captivating conversation with Kevin Takao, a seasoned legacy owner. Kevin shares his inspiring journey, from the early days of setting up his physical therapy clinic to the pivotal moment of partnering with Alliance. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at the due diligence support and the transformative changes experienced post-partnership. Tune in for a deep dive into the intricacies of Kevin’s fascinating entrepreneurial path. 

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this episode of Agile&Me, Richard Leaver welcomes back Mark Setlock, Director of Payor Relations at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners. Leveraging his extensive experience of over fifteen years, they both discuss contract negotiation, adjustments, rate increases, and a variety of other topics. 

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this episode Richard Leaver leads engaging discussions with Jillian Lam, who works within Alliance Business Development, and David, Senior Vice President at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners. Discussing the landscape of M&A activity, insights on valuations, sales outlooks and future industry predictions. 

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In the second episode of the Agile&Me Payer Contracting series, Richard Leaver hosts Mark Setlock, Director of Payor Relations at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners. Mark delves into essential contract elements therapists need to understand – covering rates, term length, termination clauses, timely filing, payment promptness, arbitration procedures, future amendments and other crucial components.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this episode of Agile&Me, Richard Leaver is joined by Mark Setlock, Director of Payor Relations at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners. With over 15 years of experience, Mark shares his journey from the hospital level to PT. Together, they unravel, payor contracts, discussing their historical context and dissecting the advantages and disadvantages of being in or out of network for both patients and providers.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this episode of Agile&Me, Richard discusses the complexities of medical records in healthcare with Tiffany Warden. Covering a range of topics including the historical shift to electronic records, patient rights governed by HIPAA, the financial consequences of non-compliance with regulations and challenges in managing medical record requests from patients, payers, and state agencies. 

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this episode of Agile&Me, Richard discusses the complexities of medical records in healthcare with Tiffany Warden. Covering a range of topics including the historical shift to electronic records, patient rights governed by HIPAA, the financial consequences of non-compliance with regulations and challenges in managing medical record requests from patients, payers, and state agencies.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

Richard sits down with Steve DiPaola, the CEO of Empower Physical Therapy. Exploring challenges faced by the outpatient physical therapy sector in 2023 – from labor shortages to reimbursement issues and administrative burdens. Steve shares insights into how Empower PT has tackled these challenges, emphasizing agility and strategic approaches. As they reflect on the dynamic landscape of 2023, the conversation extends to predictions for 2024, foreseeing innovations and policy shifts. 

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this episode Richard is joined by Joanna Bailey, who shares her experiences with physical therapy  – both the positive and the less-than-stellar. While our previous conversation with Joanna focused on her successful journey with physical therapy, today, we explore the lessons to be learned from instances where the experience didn't meet expectations. 

Joanna's story sheds light on the crucial elements of successful physical therapy, including thorough assessment, therapist-patient engagement, attentive listening, and effective leadership within the clinic.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

Welcome to another episode of Agile and Me, a Physical Therapy Leadership Podcast series. In this episode, we dive into the world of patient experiences with our special guest, Joanna Bailey. Joanna, who has been a recurrent patient of physical therapy, brings a unique perspective to the table.

What sets Joanna apart is her extensive background in healthcare, spanning three decades. As a minister and hospital chaplain, she's been a vital part of interdisciplinary discussions with rehabilitation teams, both in pediatric and adult care settings. With a keen eye for chart notes and a deep understanding of...

In this thought-provoking episode, Richard sits down with Meredith Caston, the mind behind Non-Clinical PT, to unravel the complex issues leading to the alarming shortage in healthcare workers, and what it means for the industry. They delve into eye-opening statistics from the Kaiser Family Foundation and discuss the growing mental health crisis among healthcare professionals exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.


Key Takeaways:

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the changing dynamics of stress, anxiety, and burnout in the physical therapy world.
In this episode, Richard warmly welcomes back Meredith Castin from the Non-clinical PT. The two revisit a topic previously discussed: burnout in the field of physical therapy. With the world having moved past the initial waves of COVID-19, they reflect on how the narrative surrounding burnout has evolved.
Meredith, a physical therapist and influencer, discusses the intertwining nature of mental health and professional burnout, shedding light on its many facets. As they delve deeper...

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the Alliance Leadership Podcast hosted by CEO Richard Leaver. In this engaging discussion, we dive deep into the attributes and traits that lead to leadership success with our special guest, Joseph Laporta, a renowned expert in the field of leadership development.

Joseph Laporta brings a wealth of work experience and insight into what it takes to become a successful leader. The book he is featured in, “Habits of Success – What Top Entrepreneurs Routinely Do in Business and Life,” outlines essential attributes and behaviors that contribute to success in lea...

In this episode, Richard sits down with speaker, author, and former physical therapist, Amy Lafko.  Diving into the diverse topic that is "What is a people-first approach?" Find Amy's book "People First" here

As a Physical Therapist, Amy spent years in school learning best practices for patient care and how to put the patient first. Like so many technically skilled clinicians, she advanced to a leadership role. Spending 20+ years in operational leadership, she had an epiphany: Putting the customer first isn’t the path to success or fulfillment. Rather, the most successful organizations and practices put their peo...

Richard sits down and talks to Perry Ashley of Perry Ashley Coaching and talks about the role self-awareness plays in being a good leader. This topic is great for clinic directors and physical therapists but also incredibly relevant for anyone who finds themselves in a leadership role of any capacity. Or for those who are looking to do some self-improvement. Interested in becoming a better leader?
Visit Perryashleycoaching.com or connect with Perry on LinkedIn @Perryashleyptcpqc or shoot her an email at Perryashleycoaching@gmail.com! See our library of podcasts on our website by clicking here

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Trials and Tribulations of a New Clinic Director:

Being a clinic...

In this episode, we mix things up by letting Jillian Lam from our own Mergers and Acquisitions team take the lead in discussing the moving and shaking that is happening in the business side of the physical therapy world. 

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

Richard Leaver sits down with the director of Marketing at Alliance PTP, Sam Lewakowski. In this episode, the two discuss utilizing social media in the healthcare industry. Which platforms to use, how to use them, and what each platform can bring to your clinic.

Thinking about partnering with Alliance PTP? Visit the Partner With Us section of our website to learn more.

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this episode of Agile and Me, Richard Leaver shares a conversation with Paul Martin about the process of selling your practice, from the necessary steps to take before putting your practice on the market to potential pitfalls to watch out for during negotiations. Tune in to learn a few tips and tricks that could help your practice earn a little more money!

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this podcast titled “2022 in review and predictions for 2023” we have the great pleasure of speaking with Ajay Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Physical Rehabilitation Network (PRN), one of the most prominent physical therapy partnership networks. 

Our discussion with Ajay focuses on:
·       Overview of 2022 for the outpatient physical therapy sector  

·       What the main challenges and opportunities were in 2022

·       The current challenges associated with recruitment and retention 

·       The short and medium-term consequences of staffing challenges to clinic owners and patients

·       The impact of the macroeconomic headwinds and increased cost of doing business...

In this podcast titled,  “Marketing 101” we have the great pleasure speaking again with Samantha Lewakowski, Director of Marketing for Alliance Physical Therapy Partners.
 
In this episode I discuss with Sam all things marketing, including:

What Private Equity is
The best time to sell my practice
Whether there is a specific time of year to sell
Whether opening a new clinic during the sale process is an issue
What will likely happen to the brand and culture after the transaction
What is attractive for potential buyers when considering whether to purchase a practice
Typical changes after partnering / being acquired
What happens if and when I  own the building in which my clinic(s) are established in

To learn more abo...

In this podcast titled,  “Owning your own PT practice – Keys to Success” we have the great pleasure speaking again with Pat Green, owner of Chautauqua PT, OT and SLP Professionals.
 
In this episode I discuss with Pat the trials and tribulations of owning his own practice.  More specifically we talk about:

What  he is most proud of when reflecting on his journey creating Chautauqua PT, OT and SLP Professionals 

 In this podcast titled,  "What is my Practice Worth” we have the great pleasure speaking again with Steve Tolger,, Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions, at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners.
 
Our discussion in this episode with Steve focuses on:

 In this podcast titled,  “The Steps Involved With Selling Your Outpatient Therapy Practice” we have the great pleasure speaking with Steve Tolger,, Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions, at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners.
 
Our discussion with Steve focuses on:

In this podcast titled “Physical Therapist Burnout: Causes and Solution” we have the great pleasure of speaking with Meredith Castin,  a licensed physical therapist, entrepreneur, career strategist, and owner of The Non-Clinical PT. 
 
Our discussion with Meredith focuses on:

What we mean when we talk about clinician burn out
How burnout is manifested
Why is clinician burnout such an important issue to discuss
Why are more people feeling burned out
The main causes of clinician burnout
Underlying intrinsic and extrinsic factors
Whether the problem is getting worse or bett...

In this podcast titled,  “Trials and tribulations of foreign trained Physical Therapists” we speak to Anal Shah, an experienced physical therapist who emigrated to the USA after having completed her training abroad.

 Our discussion with Anal focuses on:

Our experience obtaining verification of PT credentials in the US
The state licensure and visa process as a foreign trained PT.  
The verification of foreign education credentials
Challenges with finding a US employer prepared to employee a foreign trained PT
What we found surprising about PT clinical practice in the US
 Th...

In this podcast titled,  “Predictions for 2022 & Beyond” we speak to John Gallucci, CEO of Jag-One Physical Therapy about the short and long term future of outpatient physical therapy.  

To learn more about us, visit our website at https://www.allianceptp.com/

In this podcast titled,  “The Role of a Commercial Real Estate Broker in helping find and secure your new clinic location” we speak to Shirward Punches, commercial real estate broker from CARR

 Our discussion with Shirward focuses on:

What the role of the Commercial Real Estate Broker is
 Why a potential new clinic owner should engage a commercial real estate agent
How  a commercial real estate broker can they help a prospective clinic owner identify and secure a new location
The type of data points and sources of information commercial real est...

In this podcast titled, “Managing The Proposed CMS Fee Schedule Cuts" we speak to TIffany Warden and Lindsey Nicholson.  Patrick Slotman.  Tiffany currently serves as the Clinical Compliance Officer at Alliance Physical Therapy.  Lindsey is the Vice President of Clinical Operations at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners.  Alliance Physical Therapy Partners is a leader in outpatient physical therapy.  
  
 Our discussion focuses on:
· What are the proposed payment reductions currently planned to take place at the start of 2022. 
· The background and current situation as it pertains to the proposed 2022 Medicare 
· Physician Fee Schedule and the implementation of a payment di...

In this podcast titled, “Outpatient Physical Therapy By The Numbers (Part 2)” we once again speak to Patrick Slotman.  Patrick currently serves as Vice President of Clinical Operations at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, a leader in outpatient physical therapy.  
  
 Our discussion with Patrick focuses on:
· Where to start when talking about metrics with clinic leaders
· How to review a clinic financial statement and the normal expenses as a percentage of revenue
 · Managing labor costs to improve financial performance
· How challenges to reimbursement are reflected in the various metrics
· The importance of revenue cycle metrics to clin...

In this podcast titled, “The Future of Virtual Physical Therapy)” we speak to Ben Keeton.  Ben currently serves as Director of Clinical Operations at The Jackson Clinics, a leader in outpatient physical therapy in Virginia.  
  
 Our discussion with Ben focuses on:
One's experience to date as it pertains to delivering physical therapy virtually
The skepticism surrounding the delivery of virtual physical therapy
The barriers to the adoption and growth of virtual physical therapy
A comparison of genesis and adoption of virtual physical therapy to telemedicine 
Can virtual physical therapy be as effective as traditi...

In this podcast titled, “Outpatient Physical Therapy By The Numbers (Part 1)” we speak to Patrick Slotman.  Patrick currently serves as Vice President of Clinical Operations at Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, a leader in outpatient physical therapy.  
  
 Our discussion with Patrick focuses on:
Why measure?
What are KPIs and how they vary between providers and geography
How metrics and KPIs can help in the success of the clinic
Different types of clinic operational metrics  and benchmark values
The link between KPIs, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction
The mismatch between perception and reality of perform...

In this podcast titled, “Building a High Performing Team” we speak to Ryan Klepps.  Ryan currently serves as Vice President of Operations at WebPT, leading the Onboarding, Member Education, Data Operations/Interoperability, and Member Support teams.   
  
 Our discussion with Ryan focuses on:
 How we define a  ‘high performing team’
The need to build the team before successful operational execution
What factors / attributes are seen in a high performing team
Challenges with creating a high performing team
What determines the best type of team organization
Predictive indicators for a team's ability to perform.   

In this podcast titled, “Management of Cancelations and No Shows” we speak to Ryan Martin.  Ryan is the Group Director for Back In Motion Physical Therapy in Maine  
  
  Our discussion with Ryan focuses on:
 How you define a cancelation
 Factors that cause cancelations and no shows
 Perceived value as a determinant of patient attendance
 Setting expectations as a tactic for controlling cancelations and no shows.
 When and how  your team sets those expectations
 Tactics clinicians use to mitigate cancelations and no shows
 The role of the front office to assist with minimizing c...

In this podcast titled, “Lessons From An Early Careerist”  we speak to Brianna Bianconi, a recently qualified physical therapist.
 
 Our discussion with Brianna focuses on:
How did PT school help you prepare for your first job
What types of classes were provided to compliment the clinical learning provided
What else could have PT school taught you that would have helped you as an early careerist
When choosing your first job, what does the new graduate expect
What do employers need to do to attract and retain clinicians
What do leaders...

In this podcast titled, “Common Causes of Write Offs: Pitfalls and Solutions”  we speak to Stephanie Gardner, Director of Revenue Cycle for Alliance Physical Therapy Partners.
 
 Our discussion with Stephanie focuses on:
What do we mean by ‘write off’?
How big a problem are ‘write offs’ 
What are the causes of ‘write off’ as it pertains to outpatient PT
What can the clinicians, front office and revenue cycle do to minimize write offs
What is the role of credentialing to try and minimize write offs

To learn more about us...

 Today’s Agile&Me podcast is titled, “ The function and importance of Front Office in outpatient physical therapy clinics ”.  We are thrilled to welcome our guests Linda Kerrick.

Linda Kerrick is the Director of  Front Office Operations for Alliance Physical Therapy Partners.
Richard & Linda discuss

The role of the front office employee and their primary responsibilities
How to measure front office success / performance  
What key metrics are used to assess front office operations
What skillset / attributes are you looking for when recruiting for a front office coordinator
Why we...