Doctor's note online in Puerto Rico, included with your visit

A doctor's note, also called a sick note, states that the doctor evaluated you and, if needed, how many days of rest she recommends. You get it after your online doctor visit, when the doctor considers it appropriate based on what she evaluated.

It isn't sold on its own: it's part of your visit. That way your employer or school gets a document that reflects a real medical evaluation.

Video doctor visits 24/7 — book online and choose your time right away.

Puerto Rico's Vacation and Sick Leave Act (Ley 180-1998, as amended) lets an employer require medical certification when a sick absence runs longer than two working days (Art. 4, subsection o). The same applies when you are off to care for a sick child, spouse or parent.

Your employer's own policies or a union agreement may add details, and different rules may apply if your employer is on the mainland. If you're unsure what document you need, ask HR before the visit.

Puerto Rico public schools ask for a sick absence to be excused with a written note signed by the parent or guardian, handed in within 5 days of the absence, under the Department of Education's attendance regulation. A school can still ask for medical certification, for example when health-related absences keep recurring. Private schools, daycares and universities set their own rules.

If your child needs a doctor's note, a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian must stay on camera for the whole visit. See online doctor visits for kids.

The note reflects what the doctor evaluated during your visit:

• The date of the visit and that a Puerto Rico-licensed physician evaluated you by telehealth.
• The rest she recommends, if she considers it appropriate.
• It carries the date of the visit: we don't backdate notes or certify days the doctor couldn't evaluate.

If you've been asked for a school or university medical form, see the online medical certificate. Our clinic does not issue the health certificate for employment (health card, food handler): see the health certificate guide. To tell the documents apart, read our guide to medical certificates in Puerto Rico. If it's for travel insurance or an airline, read about a doctor's note for travel insurance.

To keep the visit smooth, get ready before you connect. More in how to prepare for your video visit:

By video we evaluate the common problems that keep people home from work or school, such as a cold, the flu or a stomach bug. If the doctor sees that you need a physical exam or another step that only happens in person, she tells you clearly and explains what kind of care to look for and how soon. To decide before you book, read telehealth vs in-person visits.

If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke or a serious injury, don't wait for a visit: call 911.

Book a visit and choose Doctor visit for the health problem that kept you home. Your doctor's note, if the doctor considers it appropriate, is included.