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 medi cal directors in community settings, a survey of all members of the America n Association of Community Psychiatrists was undertaken. A total of 168 res pondents classified themselves as agency medical directors or program medic al directors. Medical directors also classified their breadth of supervisor y responsibility as including medical staff only, medical and other clinica l staff, or all staff (including administrative staff). A classification sc heme 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 psychiatr ists and agencies negotiating job descriptions for this position.