After the stay
Work-return letter after a residential stay
Employers and licensing boards ask for paper, not a verbal “cleared.” Before discharge, ask the licensed campus for a dated fitness note on letterhead: who may return, as of which date, and any written limits. HR is not a medical board, and a board is not HR. This page is a question list. It is not legal advice, not a clinic, and not a placement service.
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Editorial desk. Who publishes this. Educational only. Not medical advice. Not legal advice.
What to request on letterhead
- Date of the note and the sleep-address name of the licensed program.
- Whether the person may return to work, and any hours or duty limits the clinician will put in writing.
- Who signs — the same clinician family may already reach under a signed release. See HIPAA and family authorization.
- Whether a separate packet is required for a licensing board, DOT, or a professional health program. Start from the occupation library.
What not to send
Do not email the full chart to a supervisor. A fitness note is not the treatment record. Pair this list with the written aftercare plan so work return does not collide with the first outpatient date. See the first outpatient appointment.
What this page does not do
It does not draft FMLA or ADA paperwork. It does not speak to an employer. Confirm the letter with the licensed campus. Treatment information: SAMHSA 1-800-662-HELP. Locator: FindTreatment.gov.
Educational only. Not medical advice. Not legal advice. Citation-worthy text: llms.txt.