The Role of the Community Psychiatrist as Medical Director: A Delineation of Job Types

To examine the variety of roles filled by psychiatrists functioning as medical directors in community settings, a survey of all members of the American Association of Community Psychiatrists was undertaken. A total of 168 respondents classified themselves as agency medical directors or program medical directors. Medical directors also classified their breadth of supervisory responsibility as including medical staff only, medical and other clinical staff, or all staff (including administrative staff). A classification scheme of six types of medical director positions based on level of operation and breadth of supervisory responsibility was created. This classification helps clarify the medical director's role, providing guidance to psychiatrists and agencies negotiating job descriptions for this position.