Return to Work Doctor Note

A doctor’s note is a document prepared by a doctor for his/her patient who is an employee of an organization. This note is intended for the employer of the patient. In the return to work doctor note, a doctor certifies that the patient was under treatment as well as states the medical issues with the patient, and why and for how long he/she cannot attend the workplace.

This note, coming from a professional doctor, is a certification and evidence that the employee is not lying and is suffering from some medical issue, due to which he cannot come to work and needs rest.

Sometimes, employers need more than just simple prescriptions and hospital documents. They consider a doctor’s note an official and valid document, that can be used as proof, as it has been written by a responsible doctor.

It can vary from one person to another…

The note may vary from one patient’s case to another’s. However, the general details included in a return to work doctor note are:

• Date.
• Details of the doctor.
• Details of the patient.
• Certification of the patient’s treatment, including the name of the doctor, date, and hospital of treatment.
• The medical issue with the patient.
• The incidence of the issue, e.g. in case of an accident, if applicable.
• Reasons why the patient cannot attend work.
• Prescriptions, including rest.
• The number of days of absence from work.
• Schedule of follow-up visits, if any.
• Request for cooperation.
• Contact details for further information.
• Salutations.

When a patient gets sick or has some medical issue or emergency, he sends out an application to his employer. Along with that, he attaches all the relevant medical documents, including the doctor’s note, which gives validity to his application and raises the chances of acceptance of his leave application.

This doctor’s note is kept in the employee file and can be referred to in the future. Therefore, the employee should not provide a fake note to the employer, else, the consequences could be dire, as the validity of the employee’s other documents can then be doubted by the employer as well.

Sample Return to Work Doctor Note

To whom it may concern,

This certifies that Ms. Samantha Johnson came to the ABC hospital in the ambulance with severe injuries after having a car accident on 12^th November 20XY. She was and is under my professional care.

Her leg got fractured, apart from the other bruises and injuries on different parts of her body. She is unable to walk and has a plaster on. I have treated her and prescribed her a bed rest of at least a week from 13^th to 19^th November 20XY. Although she is allowed to go to work after that, her mobility should be limited. She has to visit me for a follow-up on 20^th November 20XY at 3:00 p.m.

Your cooperation in this regard would be appreciated. All the relevant documents are attached to this note.

If you need any other information, you can contact me at [TEXT].

Regards,

Dr. Emma Geller.