Patient guide
Forms, notes, certificates, and reports
Learn why completing a document may require chart review, professional judgment, administrative work, and communication with the patient or requesting organization.
Why a document may require more than a signature
A form, note, certificate, or report may look simple, but the clinic may need to understand the request, review relevant health information, decide whether an assessment is needed, and complete the document accurately.
The amount of work depends on the document, its purpose, the information requested, and whether the physician can safely provide an opinion based on the information already available.
What the clinic may need to do
Review the request
The clinic may need to confirm what information is required, why it is needed, who requested it, and where the completed document must be sent.
Review relevant records
The physician may need to review visits, medications, test results, consultation reports, or other information before completing the document.
Provide a professional opinion
Some documents ask the physician to comment on diagnosis, limitations, disability, fitness, prognosis, or another issue that requires professional judgment.
Complete and document the work
The clinic may need to prepare the document, record what was provided, communicate with the patient or requesting organization, and arrange delivery.
Common examples
Requests vary widely. Examples may include:
- Sick notes and return-to-work notes.
- School, camp, daycare, or university forms.
- Employment and fitness forms.
- Insurance forms and attending physician statements.
- Disability-related forms and certificates.
- Driver medical and licensing-related forms.
- Forms requested by government programs.
- Letters, certificates, or reports requested for an administrative purpose.
Is the form covered by OHIP?
There is no single answer for every form. Some forms or related physician services may be billable to OHIP. Some may be billed to the patient or the third party that requested them. Other forms may not permit a separate form fee.
The result can depend on the purpose of the request, whether an assessment is medically necessary, who requested the document, and the specific Ontario rule or program involved.
Before the work begins, ask the clinic whether a fee applies, who is expected to pay it, and whether an appointment or additional assessment is required.
Questions to ask your clinic
Your clinic is the best source of information about a particular document request.
- Is this form, note, certificate, or report covered by OHIP?
- Who requested the document, and who is responsible for payment?
- Is an appointment or additional assessment required?
- What work does the fee cover?
- What amount will be charged before the work begins?
- When is the completed document expected to be ready?
- Will an invoice and receipt be provided?
Important note
ClinicFees.ca provides general education only. It does not determine whether a specific form, note, certificate, report, assessment, or related service is insured, uninsured, billable, taxable, permitted, waived, or collectible. Your clinic's own policy and applicable Ontario rules apply.