Sick leave for university students compromised during exam month?

Getting online sick notes approved by Irish universities has become easier for students with Get Healthcare’s telehealth platform.

Is the exam tension, all-nighter studies and impending competition making you feel under the weather?

For busy students, it is often uncompromising to take sick leaves lasting over two days. Why? Because this means getting a medical certificate from a GP. 

While it may seem like a simple task, it is often quite tedious. From booking an appointment and travelling to the clinic to waiting in line and buying medications—all this might add to the stress for students trying to recuperate while still preparing for the exam.  

Fortunately, the advent of more legitimate options for obtaining sick notes from a certified online doctor in Ireland is now possible. Thanks to the new telehealth platform, Get Healthcare. 

”We focused on introducing the most legitimate process for online sick notes to get approvals from all universities in Ireland,” explained Dr Eoghan Macsweeny, co-founder of Get Healthcare. 

“We are glad to finally be able to make it work. Our online medical cert services can equally benefit faculties and students by simplifying leave management.”

An Introduction to Get Healthcare — A Revolutionary Telehealth Platform in Ireland 

Get Healthcare is a telehealth platform, co-founded by Dylan Holland and Dr. Eoghan Macsweeny. It was launched in 2020, in the wake of COVID-19, to meet the critical demand for contactless healthcare services for minor illnesses. 

The sick cert and doctor online prescription service is open to adult students and employees over 21 years of age. It is only applicable to non-emergency illnesses that mainly need rest and don't require diagnosis-based care. 

Get Healthcare offers a one-stop solution for users to get online sick notes for verifying sick leaves and get a prescription from a doctor online along with medications — all with a few clicks. 

The simple process and well-regulated digital access to an online doctor available 24/7 is unique and more reliable than any other providers of online medical certificates in Ireland. 

Who Can Use Online Medical Certificates for Universities

Have a bad cold after spending too much time under the classrooms’ chilling AC? Do you have a high temperature? Are you badly in need of some rest?

You can take sick leave in all these scenarios, and your university is most likely to approve of a sick certificate obtained from an online doctor at Get Healthcare. Below is a detailed guideline of how it works: 

• Get Healthcare’s sick notes only apply for minor illnesses. You can use it for ailments like cold and sore throat, hay fever, cold, upset stomach or menstrual cramps.
• You can certify for short-term leaves of 2 to 5 days. 
• The document only certifies “unwell to work or study.” It is not the same as a “fitness certificate.”
• It only works when there is no medical emergency involved. 
• It only works for people who don't have any other ongoing health issues. They must be completely healthy. Moreover, it is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women. 
• The facility is only applicable for an ongoing illness. You cannot backdate it. So apply for your document on the day you decide to take a sick leave, not when you are ready to get back to class, having recovered. 
• Usage of the service is limited to 2 times a month. 

“Get Healthcare does not provide any emergency medical support. It is not a substitute for critical care,” explained Dylan.

“By setting a few limitations and restrictions of use, we mean for the resource to reach out to the right people. So that they don't have to visit the GP, drive and wait and all that, just to get their sick note signed,” concluded the founding member.

Just be honest about your condition, read the terms and conditions carefully, and adhere to them. That's it. 

How Get Healthcare Works 

Obtaining an online sick note from Get Healthcare is quite simple as long as you follow the rules. You may easily apply from your smartphone or PC, while in the comfort of your couch. Below is the step-by-step process: 

• Visit the website of Get Healthcare. Fill out their online medical questionnaire form. Make sure you provide all accurate answers about symptoms and other health-related details. 
• Submit the questionnaire form with your payment. The site offers a wide range of digital payment options for credit and debit cards.
• Once submitted, your medical questionnaire is up for review by a GP online in Ireland.
• The doctor could also contact you for direct communication and a more detailed evaluation. After the evaluation, if you are eligible, you will receive your sick note within 24 hours over email.
• Meanwhile you can also use their online doctor consultation and prescription service to get additional care and medications.
• Faculties can use the same platform to verify the submitted document. 

“With the high prevalence of exam sickness in University students in Ireland, we discovered a solid need for online doctors' sick notes. Terms like “GP near me book online” have tremendous search volumes it's hard to believe. So we took the hunch, and went ahead launching Get Healthcare,” said Dylan Holland.

Irish universities have broadly introduced flexible policies in terms of attendance. If you are feeling unwell, it is okay to take a few days’ leave even during exam month.

However, clear communication is the key to avoid serious academic backlogs. Email your professor and other concerned persons. Present the sick note on time and follow the guidelines. It all adds to your credibility.