Teleconsultation for work stoppage: possible or not?

Prescribing a work stoppage, even in a face-to-face setting, is always a delicate matter for an attending physician. A work stoppage is established on the basis of an examination during the patient's consultation. Is it possible to issue a work stoppage order via teleconsultation? The answer is yes, but only under certain conditions.

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Why stop work?

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The treating physician prescribes a work stoppage when your state of health does not allow you to continue working. Therefore, if you are ill, disabled or suffering from a short/long illness, you may be issued with a work stoppage notice.

In this case, you have the right not to go to work. Make sure you inform your employer as soon as possible. The work stoppage certificate issued by your doctor serves as proof of your absence. As an employee on sick leave, you may even be entitled to compensation, provided you produce a medical certificate.

A simple prescription will not suffice in the event of an interruption of work. Salary continuation is only guaranteed if you produce a medical certificate issued by a doctor. Only this document can certify that you are not yet fit to return to work. Without it, you risk loss of salary or suspension of your employment contract if you fail to report to the office.

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Is it possible to issue a sick leave certificate by teleconsultation?

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Nowadays, remote consultations can be used to carry out all kinds of medical procedures: prescriptions for medication, analyses or additional tests, or even emergency hospitalization requests. However, when it comes to drawing up a medical certificate for sick leave, things are far from straightforward.

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A physical examination is mandatory

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The medical certificate summarizes the doctor's opinion of the patient's general condition. To draw it up, the examining doctor must proceed in two stages. On the one hand, he or she takes what is known as an anamnesis, i.e. a history of the patient's pain. Secondly, a physical examination is carried out.

During this second stage, he will auscultate and palpate the patient. As you can see, it's virtually impossible to obtain an opinion on whether or not to stop work via teleconsultation. This physical examination is essential to determine the time off work, and cannot be carried out without the presence of the sick employee.

Good to know: a face-to-face consultation is not mandatory in the case of psychological or psychiatric pathology. If the person concerned is suffering from burn-out or depression, for example, palpation and percussion will not be necessary. In this case, teleconsultation with a general practitioner can be considered.

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What happens in the case of extended sick leave?

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If the patient's health has not improved by the time he or she is due to return to work, he or she may request an extension of the period of sick leave. This extension should preferably be requested from the treating physician, or the one who drew up the first certificate.

Here again, a physical examination is required. A face-to-face consultation is mandatory to establish this extension. However, there may be one exception. If the sick employee is unable to travel and attend the medical examination, the consultation can be carried out remotely.

It should be noted that the French government has authorized teleconsultation by teleconsultation for Covid-19 sufferers.. The aim is to allow patients to isolate themselves while benefiting from medical follow-up.

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Steps for teleconsulting work stoppages when you are a doctor

The prescription of a work stoppage by teleconsultation must be made directly on the official Social Security website. The prescription must be made by a doctor.

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Filling out the work stoppage prescription online

To be able to prescribe a work stoppage for an employee, the doctor must access his Amelipro account. He must also have a CPS card, which will enable him to log in.

Once connected, he will enter his patient's NIR. This information can be found on the patient's carte vitale. Next, he or she fills in the form dedicated to the request to stop work, specifying the reason and duration.

It may also specify the patient's ALD (long-term illness). Finally, it indicates whether this is a first request for sick leave, or an extension.

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Transmission to the health insurance

Once the doctor in charge has validated the form, he or she receives a summary. Two options are available:

• He can send it directly to the primary health insurance fund if the patient is covered by the general MSA scheme. An employer's model will be sent automatically.
• He or she can print it out and give it to the patient, who will then forward the first two sections to the plan to which he or she is attached, including the supplementary health plan. The third section should be sent to the employer.

In the latter case, the work stoppage can be sent to the patient, who will then print it out and send it to the appropriate person.

Good to know: employees must inform their employer within 24 to 48 hours.

Duration of sick leave and payment of benefits

The length of time off work varies according to the cause of the disability: illness, industrial accident or occupational disease. Sick leave should not exceed six months in the case of an ordinary pathology.

As for the payment of daily benefits, this is handled by the health insurance fund (CPAM). They generally represent 50% of the patient's basic salary, and are paid after a waiting period of three days. Remember to send section 2 to your primary health insurance fund.

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