What does a viral water brand have to do with physical therapy?

A lot more than you think. In this episode, Dave Kittle, Jimmy McKay, and Tony Maritato break down the marketing magic behind the 6-7 Water meme, how a high schooler accidentally built a viral brand, and what PTs can learn from it. Then we get serious: is PT school still worth it? We look at declining applications, shrinking reimbursements, and whether the “traditional” path even makes sense in 2025.

Watch more from PT Pintcast →https://www.youtube.com/@PTPintcast

---

EPISODE BREAKDOWN

[00:00] — Introduction to the Challenges in Healthcare

[01:02] — My First Million Podcast

[01:20] — The Viral Story of the 6-7 Kid

[02:20] — Creating a Water Brand from a Viral Moment

[03:30] — The Attention Economy in Business

[04:57] — Leveraging Social Media for Business Growth

[06:10] — The Reality of Flash-in-the-Pan Trends

[07:20] — Applying Viral Marketing to Physical Therapy

[12:33] — The Challenges of Starting a Beverage Company

[20:53] — Decline in Occupational Therapy Applications

[21:50] — Impact of Reimbursement Reductions on Healthcare

[27:35] — The Financial Struggles of Physical Therapy Practices

[28:30] — The State of Outpatient Physical Therapy

[28:53] — The Simplicity of Direct Payment Models

[29:23] — Comparing Industries: Haircuts and Healthcare

[29:59] — The Third-Party Payment Model

[30:36] — Challenges with Medicare and Patient Goals

[36:27] — Personal Stories: Why We Became Physical Therapists

[42:57] — Advice for Aspiring Physical Therapists

[49:30] — The Value of Hands-On Experience

[53:22] — Parting Shots

--

Want to Connect with Dave?

Book a strategy call:

https://clarity.fm/davekittle/expertise/physical-therapy-merger-acquisitions-valuations-healthcare-marketing-sales

Thinking of selling your practice or partnering?

https://www.fieldmakergroup.com

Connect with Dave:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @davekittle https://www.instagram.com/davekittle/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davekittle/

or

Call (646)-781-8884

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.