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Doctors Note FAQs

1) What is a doctor’s note for work?

A doctor’s note for work is a form of written documentation that provides notice to your employer of your inability to work due to a medical condition. You may or may not be required to submit a doctor’s note when taking sick time, depending on your company’s sick time policy.

These notes also justify doctor’s visits, checkups, or medical procedures scheduled during normal work hours. Doctor’s notes vary depending on the extent of your absence, including if you have to access benefits from the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

2) What should be included in a doctor’s excuse note?

Doctor’s notes aren’t comprehensive medical documents, but they do need to include some basic information to ensure you and your employer understand the situation. While you shouldn’t feel pressured to share protected medical information, the level of detail your employer or school may require will vary.

Beyond any unique requirements, a typical doctor’s excuse note will include

• A basic description of your medical reason for leave
• The date and time of your visit
• Any requirements, limitations, or recommendations
• The period of required absence

Be sure to check with your HR team to confirm what information your company needs before requesting a note from your doctor. This will reduce the need for back-and-forth communication.

3) Who uses doctor’s excuse templates?

Doctor’s excuse templates are a quick and easy way to streamline your sick leave process. They’re versatile, and various individuals use them, such as

• Doctors and healthcare providers: This includes any healthcare facilities that would authorize a doctor’s note, such as urgent care facilities, clinics, emergency rooms, doctor’s offices, and hospitals.
• Employees: Employees may send a premade template to their healthcare provider with relevant fields that fit their needs. This helps ensure their doctor includes the exact information their employer requires, saving everyone time.
• Students and parents: To excuse their child from school, parents can use a doctor’s note template to properly organize information. This saves doctors time and streamlines the excuse process.

Using doctor’s note templates is efficient, and it makes it quicker and easier for organizations to approve absences.

4) What are the different use cases for a doctor’s note template?

Depending on your company’s or school’s sick leave policy, you may have to acquire a doctor’s note for a number of circumstances. Some employers require a note to excuse any level of absence, even an hour of your normal work time. However, some employers are more lenient about how their employees manage their schedules and only require notes for extended absences.

Here are some common use cases for a doctor’s note template:

• Medical appointment
• Hospitalization
• Pregnancy or delivery
• School absence
• Remote work request

By using a template, you can adjust your note to your unique circumstances and communicate more effectively with HR.

5) Who can provide a doctor’s note?

Despite the name, other staff members at a healthcare organization, aside from doctors, can provide doctor’s notes. This includes nurses, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, and more. As long as a staff member is authorized to provide these notes and has access to the information you need, a doctor’s note doesn’t need to come directly from a doctor.

Since doctors are often extremely busy tending to all their patients’ needs, this wider range of authorization reduces the burden on them and you. As long as your physician approves the note, you can easily acquire it without waiting for your doctor.

6) How to get a doctor’s note

The simplest way to get a doctor’s note is by mentioning your need during a doctor’s appointment. Your doctor will provide you with one while you’re there. However, you can also reach out to your doctor directly with a doctor’s note template to secure one without visiting in person. If you need a note for a new condition, however, your doctor will likely require you to undergo an examination.

If you don’t have insurance or an established relationship with a physician, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a clinic or community health center to receive a note.