Grow Your Practice Podcast

Private practice builder Ryan Christoff joins Chad Madden to unpack how he grew from one clinic to 26 in Western PA. He shares the two books that shaped his mindset, the sub-$500 tool that moved the needle, and the painful expansion mistake that became a turning point. You’ll hear practical hiring and retention tactics, why “foot on the gas” matters, and how AI will reshape scheduling, authorizations, and collections. Watch if you want battle-tested strategies to grow your PT practice and protect your time.Timestamps00:00 - Intro & why Ryan’s a special guest01:18 - From one clinic to 26: Ryan’s background02:52 - Game-changing books: The Strangest Secret & Rich Dad Poor Dad04:24 - Best sub-$500 tool: two-way texting for D2C & reactivations05:48 - Biggest mistake opening a clinic—and the turnaround08:30 - Mantra: “Keep your foot on the gas”09:32 - Best investment: time to think, partner smart, win-win deals10:46 - Unconventional review process: staff self-assess wins & teamwork12:18 - New mindset: you can’t please everyone (comp & balance realities)13:55 - Starting a practice: legal/finance first, don’t rely on MD referrals15:20 - Protecting time: say no, one needle-moving task per day16:35 - Overlooked trend: staffing squeeze & creative scheduling17:30 - What’s next: AI for auths & collections; faster changes than ever18:16 - Closing advice to owners

Chad Madden and Dr. Ben Fung break down the behaviors that keep schedules full and graduation rates near 100%—from “left/right-brain” patient communication to always ending each visit on a win. They unpack UpDoc’s Corporate Quality Index (CQI), including intention-to-stay thresholds that predict retention, and why soft skills and on-stage presence matter. You’ll hear practical cues you can deploy tomorrow, plus a book rec that reframes patient experience through behavioral science.If this helped, subscribe for more PT business and leadership insights.Timestamps00:00 – Why engaged patients graduate (and refer)03:12 – Production goals vs. visits/units: keeping the schedule full07:45 – Left- vs. right-brained patient communication (numbers vs. function)12:10 – “End on a win”: structuring sessions for momentum18:20 – What is the Corporate Quality Index (CQI)?23:05 – Intention-to-stay thresholds & spotting flight risk28:40 – Soft skills, stage presence & micro-behaviors that matter33:15 – Resources, contacts & most influential bookBook a free demo call and get a behind-the-scenes look at the exact systems, tools, and frameworks Chad used to grow from a solo PT to a $20M practice — and the blueprint he's using to reach $100M. https://getbreakthrough.com/demo/The Corporate Quality Index (CQI) 2024 Report 

PT owner Chad Madden sits down with industry veteran Bob Kowalick to unpack what it really takes to scale beyond yourself. They cover the #1 book that shaped Bob’s approach, painful (and expensive) lessons on “trust but verify,” and why data. not opinions, must drive your systems. You’ll hear how to invest in yourself, innovate through experimentation, and the coming shift to PTs owning musculoskeletal health management. If you find this valuable, subscribe for more practice-growth playbooks.Time Stamps00:00 - Intro & guest setup01:21 - The #1 book for scaling: Scale (Hoffman & Finkel)06:11 - Biggest failure: trust—but verify (billing & IP lessons)12:25 - Best investment: invest in yourself13:12 - Unconventional edge: innovate & experiment15:31 - What changed most in 5 years: data as foundation16:43 - Advice to new PT owners (2024 realities)24:28 - Bonus trend: PTs owning musculoskeletal healthBook a free demo call and get a behind-the-scenes look at the exact systems, tools, and frameworks Chad used to grow from a solo PT to a $20M practice — and the blueprint he's using to reach $100M. https://getbreakthrough.com/demo/If you run a PT practice, you can almost feel the calendar tighten around Thanksgiving, January deductibles, or early summer. Schedules thin. Margins evaporate. Anxiety spikes. What if those same weeks became your busiest?Most clinics brace for a slow season by doing less: pausing outreach, leaning harder on physician referrals, or trying to outspend big-box retailers in Q4 ad auctions. That combo leads to fewer evals, underutilized schedules, and profit leaks. Worse, it creates the illusion that slow seasons are inevitable.Key InsightsFocus on the channel you own. Of the five New Patient Pathways—Reactivations, Word-of-Mouth, Physician Referrals, Partners, and Cold Traffic—only reactivations tap a list you truly control: your past patients.Text beats everything. Start with SMS, then email. Response rates are faster and higher, especially when your message is clear and patient-centered.Messaging is no longer the bottleneck. AI has crushed the cost and time of copywriting. Great subject lines, benefit-driven offers, and empathetic body copy can now be generated and refined in minutes—so bad messaging is no longer an excuse.Conversion is about questions, not scripts. Move away from didactic monologues. Use calibrated “how/what” questions: What’s going on with your shoulder? How long has it been bothering you? What have you tried and how did it work? These open doors and build commitment.Track everything and automate. Without attribution, you can’t scale what works. Marketing software and AI conversion agents (think an assistant who “works” nights/weekends) handle replies, keep conversations moving, and hand off to staff to schedule.After two brutal Q4s—including a ~60% drop in new patients (October to December) and a six-figure loss—Chad asked a better question: What would it look like if Q4 were our busiest quarter? The team doubled down on the past patient list and launched a focused campaign: a half-day of free screens/rechecks in early November. They used direct mail plus email to invite former patients. Result: 73 reactivations in one morning and a seven-week waiting list that carried the clinic through year-end. Q4 flipped from a liability to their best quarter.Putting It Into PracticeRun the “Greatest Promotion Ever.” Offer a limited block of free screens/rechecks to past patients in early November. Cap slots to create urgency and protect clinical time.Cadence that compounds:Past Patients: 1 direct-mail piece/month, 2 emails/month, 1 text/month.Partners: at least 1 workshop/month per location (e.g., employers, gyms).Physicians: 1 monthly mailer + handwritten thank-yous.Cold Traffic: workshops + paid social/search to fill them.Upgrade follow-up: Use an AI conversion assistant to respond after-hours, ask calibrated questions, and progress the conversation to “ready to schedule.”Tighten the eval-to-POC handoff: Train clinicians on a 7-step exam with a signed plan-of-care summary to convert evals into committed treatment.Slow seasons aren’t a law of nature. When you own your list, ask better questions, and run a simple, repeatable cadence, Q4 can become your clinic’s growth engine. Start with one reactivation campaign this month, and build your automation and tracking as you go. For the exact questions to boost conversions and details on the upcoming Virtual Summit, check the show notes—and commit to running your first free-screen morning in early November.Ready to scale your practice? Schedule a demo with us and see how Breakthrough's growth platform can fit into your practice. https://getbreakthrough.com/demo/Link to register for Virtual SummitLink to demo BreakthroughLink for Chapter 7 in Killer Marketing SecretsLink for Top 10 Questions 

Thinking about buying or merging with another private practice? In this episode, Chad Madden breaks down an 8-step checklist to value a practice correctly, avoid common pitfalls, and de-risk your acquisition. You’ll learn how to assess owner dependency, calculate value using EBITDA × a fair multiple, run airtight due diligence, and spot red flags before you sign. Plus: when opening de novo beats buying, and how to plan for integration and diversified referrals. Grab the free checklist in the show notes and apply it to your next deal.Time Stamps00:00 - Intro & why acquisitions matter02:01 - Step 1: Seller transition plan & owner dependency04:36 - Step 2: Valuation the right way—EBITDA × multiple (not revenue)10:02 - Step 3: Due diligence & legal compliance essentials11:55 - Step 4: Referral source concentration risk14:17 - Step 5: Equipment, space & lease terms15:00 - Step 6–7: Don’t pay for your own advantages + bring experts17:13 - Step 8: Deal framework, ROI targets & key red flagsBook a free demo call and get a behind-the-scenes look at the exact systems, tools, and frameworks Chad used to grow from a solo PT to a $20M practice — and the blueprint he's using to reach $100M. https://getbreakthrough.com/demo/

Learn the four levels of private practice owners using AI—from “minor leaguer” to “hall of famer”—and see exactly how PT leaders are hiring faster, filling schedules, and building smarter systems. We cover real examples (hiring ads that 200× results, cash-based promos with RunDNA, payer rate negotiations, and RCM wins) plus a simple path to level up. If shrinking margins and rising costs are squeezing you, this breakdown shows where you are now and what to do next.Free Virtual Summit: Automate Your Practice with AI on October 21, 2025 https://offer.getbreakthrough.com/2025-ai-summitTimestamps00:00 - Why AI levels matter for PT owners01:05 - The 4-level framework (Minor → Major → All-Star → Hall of Famer)02:18 - Level 1: Minor Leaguer—AI as “fancy search” & box-checking05:26 - Level 2: Major Leaguer—fear, time scarcity & the profit squeeze10:42 - Case studies: 200× hiring ads, RunDNA email lift14:40 - Level 3: All-Star—weekly practice, team adoption & 30-minute funnels18:54 - Level 4: Hall of Famer—legacy mindset & data-driven RCM22:12 - Where to deploy AI now + Oct 21, 2025 Virtual Summit CTABook a free demo call and get a behind-the-scenes look at the exact systems, tools, and frameworks Chad used to grow from a solo PT to a $20M practice — and the blueprint he's using to reach $100M. https://getbreakthrough.com/demo/

Private practice owner Justin Pezick of Orthopedics Plus shares how he went from “nice-sounding” job posts to high-converting, principle-driven ads using AI—boosting applicants from 2–3/week to 4–5/day. We cover purpose → principles → process, translating work-life balance into concrete policies, and smart prompt engineering to avoid fluff and hallucinations. You’ll also hear how leadership work (Table Group, Sinek/Lencioni) shaped their culture and retention.Grab Justin’s 73-page hiring playbook https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Uv8CT_XdP8tRwyG3lpFNxXcJ7emIuEb/view?usp=sharingTimestamps00:00 – Intro: Justin + Orthopedics Plus02:28 – From “nice” ads to data-backed job posts04:18 – What candidates actually want (WebPT insights)09:54 – Purpose → Principles → Process (start with WHY)12:27 – Operationalizing work-life balance (real policies)15:35 – Results: 2–3/week → 4–5/day applicants19:33 – Investing in leadership; breaking silos (Table Group)33:35 – How to contact Justin + where to get the PDFBook a free demo call and get a behind-the-scenes look at the exact systems, tools, and frameworks Chad used to grow from a solo PT to a $20M practice — and the blueprint he's using to reach $100M. https://getbreakthrough.com/demo/

Chad Madden sits down with DPTs Brenna Strawser & Christian Grove to unpack the simple, repeatable systems behind 500+ Google reviews and months of 100% graduation rates. You’ll hear the exact “ask” script, how to use QR codes at discharge, proactive scheduling to keep caseloads full, and empathy-driven communication that boosts outcomes. Perfect for private practice owners and clinical leaders who want full schedules and raving fans.Time Stamps02:22 - Why Google reviews matter + monthly clinic challenge03:59 - The step-by-step review “ask” (QR codes, standing beside, troubleshooting)08:50 - Balancing production & relationships; graduation rate as a quality metric10:25 - “End strong” & future pacing: shaping patient memory between visits13:55 - Proactive scheduling to prevent doubles/triples and keep care high-quality15:48 - Empathy & adaptability: numbers vs. narratives; revamping on plateaus20:07 - Lessons from travel/SNF and mentoring new grads; book recs & close

Chad Madden is joined by five-time guest Doug Adams (Omega Project & RunDNA). Doug shares the books, systems, and mindset shifts that helped him avoid burnout, build high-value care, and scale through people and processes. You’ll learn a clever $200 marketing play, why specialization wins, and how to run a weekly “board meeting” at home to keep life and practice aligned.Enjoy the episode? Subscribe, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share with a fellow practice owner!Timestamps00:00 – Welcome & Titans series setup02:18 – Books: Atomic Habits, Start with Why, StoryBrand05:32 – $200 business cards → discovery sessions & ROI09:08 – Burnout to breakthrough: systems & boundaries15:06 – Mantra: “Fail to plan, plan to fail”16:16 – Best investment: developing your team17:19 – Weekly home “board meeting” planning system32:51 – Trends: AI, consolidation & the case for specialization

In this episode of the Grow Your Practice podcast, Chad Madden welcomes back Doug Adams from RunDNA and the Omega Project to discuss how gait and running analysis is revolutionizing physical therapy clinics. Discover how incorporating cutting-edge gait analysis can enhance patient outcomes, differentiate your clinic, and increase revenue through cash-based services. Learn from real-world success stories, marketing strategies, and the mindset shifts clinicians need to embrace value-based care.Learn more: https://www.rundna.comTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction and success story02:11 - What is RunDNA and how it started04:50 - Real-life example of immediate results using gait analysis06:28 - The need for gait analysis in today's PT landscape08:43 - Chili's analogy and value-based services11:27 - First steps for adding cash-based services14:07 - The mindset shift: Want vs Should17:53 - Revenue impact and champion clinicians20:29 - Market alignment and misalignment24:05 - Strategic partnerships with running stores27:19 - Doug's journey from local to national expert33:16 - Lead vs Lag indicators in gait analysis37:07 - Clinician mindset around selling value42:02 - Don't diagnose the wallet: sell based on value47:02 - Time-based vs Value-based thinking49:47 - Discharge is a four-letter word52:52 - Doug's current interests and final thoughts

Feeling stuck with low margins—even when your clinic is full? You’re not alone. In this video, Chad Madden walks through why most private practice owners feel powerless to improve their payer mix and how small strategic changes can add $60K+ in monthly profit without adding more patients or staff.You’ll learn the Quantity → Quality → Viability framework, real examples from clinics across the country, and five specific ways to start attracting better payers today.00:00 – The most common profitability problem for busy practices01:15 – Why improving your payer mix matters more than you think03:00 – The power of adding just $5 per visit05:00 – Breaking the myth: Higher revenue ≠ higher costs06:45 – National trends: declining reimbursements, rising costs08:00 – The framework: Quantity → Quality → Viability10:00 – How to identify your best payers11:30 – 5 Patient Pathways to influence your payer mix  • 11:45 – Reactivations (target your best payers)  • 13:10 – Word of mouth & physician referrals  • 13:50 – Employer partnerships  • 15:00 – Cold traffic marketing & diagnosis targeting17:20 – Case study: Pelvic floor program ad strategy20:00 – What top practices are doing nationwide  • Hybrid models  • Renegotiating rates  • Dropping low payers  • Attracting better ones22:45 – The real obstacle: “I can’t do anything” is a myth24:00 – Final thoughts and where to go from here