Leadership role
Psychiatrist / Behavioral MD
A physician who diagnoses and treats mental illness and substance use disorders, including prescribing medication.
Reporting and scope
Reports to the Medical Director / CMO or a behavioral health clinical director. Authority covers the psychiatrist's patients and, in some roles, clinical supervision.
Core responsibilities
- Performs psychiatric evaluations and makes diagnoses
- Prescribes and manages medication
- Leads treatment teams with therapists, nurses and case managers
- Provides crisis and emergency evaluations
- Documents care and meets Medicaid and grant requirements
- May serve as medical director of a behavioral health program
How it differs
The Psychologist / Therapist provides therapy and testing but does not prescribe in most states. Physician / Clinical Practitioner covers other specialties. The Medical Director / CMO leads clinical oversight.
By organization size
In community mental health centers psychiatrists often cover several sites, sometimes by telehealth. In large systems they may lead inpatient units or specialty programs.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Psychiatrist; Staff Psychiatrist; Child Psychiatrist; Chief Psychiatrist; Lead Psychiatrist; Clinical Psychiatrist