Director of occupational therapy vs practice manager

The differences between directors of occupational therapy and practice managers 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 practice manager. Additionally, a practice manager has an average salary of $107,374, 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 practice manager are patients, patient care, and customer service.

Director of occupational therapy vs practice manager overview

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Practice Manager
Yearly salary	$88,320	$107,374
Hourly rate	$42.46	$51.62
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	46,434	38,196
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
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 practice manager do?

A practice manager is responsible for supervising daily operations, especially on the side of the medical industry. Practice managers monitor staffing needs, train new employees, and evaluate the employees' productivity and performance. They also enforce strict guidelines and procedures, ensuring that the processes adhere to the legal standards and regulatory requirements. Practice managers also maintain budget goals, creating cost estimates and expense reports. A practice manager must have strong communication, analytical, and critical-thinking skills, as well as comprehensive knowledge of the medical industry practices.

Director of occupational therapy vs practice manager salary

Directors of occupational therapy and practice managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Practice Manager
Average salary	$88,320	$107,374
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $137,000	Between $65,000 And $175,000
Highest paying City	-	Providence, RI
Highest paying state	-	Rhode Island
Best paying company	-	Davis Wright Tremaine
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between director of occupational therapy and practice manager education

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

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Practice Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Occupational Therapy	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Director of occupational therapy vs practice manager demographics

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

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Practice Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 25.5% Female, 74.5%	Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7%
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, 11.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.9% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between director of occupational therapy and practice manager 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.

Practice manager example responsibilities.

Secure new engagements worldwide, and lead numerous ERP and CRM initiatives.
Manage a great team of 7 consultants that deliver outstanding ERP solutions.
Supervise and manage a staff of 12.5 FTE personnel and 4 FTE physicians.
Accomplish at applying knowledge of veterinary science and compassion for animals to ensure optimal care.
Manage all aspects of establishing, setting and implementing standards and work processes to ensure well running PMO.
Manage the selection process and implementation of the practice's EMR by reviewing and updating the system as needed.

Director of occupational therapy vs practice manager skills

Common director of occupational therapy skills

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

Common practice manager skills

Patients, 17%
Patient Care, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
PET, 5%
Practice Management, 4%
Payroll, 3%

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Director Of Occupational Therapy
Director Of Occupational Therapy vs Practice Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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