A licenced physician’s signature is necessary on a physician’s letter of return to work. The letter is often requested from the physician who initially treated the patient’s injuries or sickness, however another physician can also draught the letter.
A physician’s return to work letter serves as documentation that the employee has been examined and deemed fit to return to work. The physician indicates in the letter whether the employee can return to full or limited duty. If he is only able to perform restricted duty, the letter specifies the applicable limits, such as a prohibition on lifting or reaching above the shoulders. These limits could be permanent or have an expiration date. Additionally, the letter should clarify that the employee will be sent home if modified duty is not available during his shift.
The doctor may need an office visit before releasing an employee to work. The specific wording of the letter may vary from physician to physician, so long as it contains the needed information. The letter must indicate the date the employee is medically cleared to return to work. At the bottom of the letter, both the physician and employee must sign and date their names.
