Published on Jan 18, 2024
Online Medical Certificate
What is an online medical certificate?
An online medical certificate is a certified document produced by an AHPRA-accredited doctor after the patient has undergone assessment through digital or telehealth consultations conducted via the internet. These certificates eliminate the need for an in-person visit and are also known as sick certificates, sick notes, doctor's certificates, or med certs.
Why are they so popular nowadays?
Acquiring Medical Certificates Online have gained immense popularity due to their time-saving benefits, cost-effectiveness, and overall convenience in our modern world. They not only save patients valuable time but also contribute to preventing the spread of infections, as individuals can obtain certificates without physically visiting a clinic. Furthermore, the efficiency and ease of acquiring these certificates make them a preferred choice for many.
What cases are appropriate to obtain medical certificates online without seeing a doctor in person?
Online medical certificates are most suitable for mild, self-limiting illnesses such as:
in individuals without underlying significant medical issues. They prove particularly advantageous in cases where the prescribed remedy is rest, enabling patients to recover without the need to queue at a clinic. The convenience and time-saving aspect of online medical certificates is especially beneficial when all that is required is a day off for recuperation.
What cases are not suitable for online medical certificates?
Not all cases are appropriate for telehealth or digital consultation, especially when a physical examination by a doctor is necessary to rule out serious diagnoses. NextClinic's clinical forms are meticulously formulated with the safety of patients as the top priority.
In circumstances where a physical examination or in-person review is deemed necessary, our partner doctors will not issue your certificate; instead, they'll instruct you to seek medical attention in person.
As our top priority is your well-being, we don't want to delay necessary medical attention in those cases.
If you cannot obtain a medical certificate from us, you won't be charged.
Current pathway to obtain Medical Certificates Online on the same day via NextClinic
NextClinic currently has a pathway where patients can request Medical Certificates Online for up to two days maximum. This pathway is suitable when a long telehealth consultation or issuance of a prescription is not necessary.
The sick certificates via this pathway are for the purpose of work or absence from attendance at university or school only.
Cases Requiring Long Consultation
Not all circumstances are suitable to access NextClinic's Online Medical Certificate pathway.
The following circumstances will require a long telehealth consultation to obtain a medical certificate:
- Patients less than 18 years old
- Medical certificates for the purpose of deferral of an assessment or an exam
- When patients need more than 2 days to recover from their illnesses
NextClinic will be offering long telehealth consultations in the near future once we have expanded our functionality to include issuing e-scripts, referrals, and conducting general consultations.
Please stay tuned for updates.
What NextClinic cannot offer
However, due to the limitations of telehealth, NextClinic will not be able to issue medical certificates for the following purposes, but not limited to, under any circumstances:
- Fit to work / return to work
- Back to school clearance
- Centrelink certificates
- Work cover / compensation purposes
- Court or police station attendances
Is there a limited number of days for which I can get medical certificates online?
Due to the limited nature of telehealth, we currently limit the issuance to a maximum of 6 days within the past 30 days. This is for your safety, and we want to ensure that you have arranged necessary appointments with your regular GPs if you are becoming sick frequently or for a longer duration.
What is the process for requesting a medical certificate online from NextClinic?
For now, feel free to request a medical certificate online for a day or two which will be in your inbox within an hour.
- Simply submit the form by answering clinically formulated questions to ensure your safety.
- Our doctors will carefully assess and may contact you via phone if deemed necessary within an hour (from 6 am to midnight AEST).
- The certificate will be in your inbox as soon as it is approved by the doctor. Alternatively, you can download your medical certificate from your patient portal anytime.
- Our medical certificates come with QR codes for easy verification by the employers and universities.
If you still have further questions regarding our online medical certificates pathway, please check out our FAQ
