Director of occupational therapy vs medical director

The differences between directors of occupational therapy and medical directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a director of occupational therapy and a medical director. Additionally, a medical director has an average salary of $230,317, which is higher than the $88,320 average annual salary of a director of occupational therapy.

The top three skills for a director of occupational therapy include occupational therapy, patients and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a medical director are patients, medical care, and medical services.

Director of occupational therapy vs medical director overview

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Medical Director
Yearly salary	$88,320	$230,317
Hourly rate	$42.46	$110.73
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	46,434	75,810
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a director of occupational therapy do?

A director of occupational therapy oversees the occupational therapy programs and projects in a medical or health facility. They have the authority to direct operations from planning to execution, establish budgets and schedules, set goals and protocols, and develop strategies to deliver quality care to clients. Their duties also entail performing extensive research and assessments, developing treatment plans for clients, reviewing reports, and coordinating with fellow experts. Additionally, as a director, it is essential to lead employees and implement policies and standards to ensure efficient services.

What does a medical director do?

A medical director is responsible for handling the overall supervision of different medical departments, managing the coordination between medical teams to ensure smooth operations and achieve high-quality care services for the patients. Medical directors enforce strict guidelines and safety measures for everyone's adherence. They also implement medical care programs, recruit medical staff, inspect the adequacy of medical equipment, respond to patient's inquiries and concerns, and oversee the facilities' procedures. A medical director manages the budget of the department, allocating equal resources to address every need.

Director of occupational therapy vs medical director salary

Directors of occupational therapy and medical directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Medical Director
Average salary	$88,320	$230,317
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $137,000	Between $143,000 And $369,000
Highest paying City	-	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	UnitedHealth Group
Best paying industry	-	Insurance

Differences between director of occupational therapy and medical director education

There are a few differences between a director of occupational therapy and a medical director in terms of educational background:

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Medical Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common major	Occupational Therapy	Medicine
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Director of occupational therapy vs medical director demographics

Here are the differences between directors of occupational therapy' and medical directors' demographics:

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Medical Director
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 25.5% Female, 74.5%	Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.9% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between director of occupational therapy and medical director duties and responsibilities

Director of occupational therapy example responsibilities.

Manage PPS details efficiently to ensure high quality clinical care while maximizing reimbursement for the facility.
Develop independent living program for adult rehabilitation patients in preparation for discharge.
Addressed Medicare denials for all customers.
Prepare for JCAHO and CARF surveys.
Full procedure manual written base on CARF guidelines.
Recruit, train and supervise a cohesive staff of COTA's.

Medical director example responsibilities.

Manage OPD for acute injuries.
Manage patients with diabetes, hypertension and other medical problems.
Manage patients living with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other sexually transmit infections.
Manage hypertension and diabetes in elderly patients
Conduct psychiatry evaluations and treatment, manage co-occurring disorders.
Manage budget planning, forecasting and accruals for improve financial management.

Director of occupational therapy vs medical director skills

Common director of occupational therapy skills

Occupational Therapy, 17%
Patients, 13%
Rehabilitation, 9%
Home Health, 8%
COTA, 8%
Program Development, 7%

Common medical director skills

Patients, 12%
Medical Care, 7%
Medical Services, 6%
Utilization Review, 5%
Appeals, 5%
Internal Medicine, 4%

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Director Of Occupational Therapy
Director Of Occupational Therapy vs Medical Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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