Telehealth Finds School Visits 3.2x More Likely to End with Doctor's Note

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 30, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Children's telehealth visits are 3.2 times more likely to end with a doctor's note during the school year compared to summer break, according to a new study from DrHouse, a telehealth platform based on 5,780 completed pediatric telehealth visits. The study found that 35.9% of children’s visits during the school year ended with a doctor's note, compared with just 11.3% during summer break, a 3.2x increase.

DrHouse's research reveals that the need for documentation increases as children get older, with 41.9% of telehealth visits among high school-age patients ending with a note. The study also found that 49.9% of children’s telehealth visits booked on weekday mornings between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. ended with a note, compared with 12.2% on weekend mornings.

For working parents, obtaining a doctor's note can be a significant challenge. The study shows that during school months, 49.9% of children’s telehealth visits booked on weekday mornings between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. ended with a note, compared with 12.2% on weekend mornings. This can mean juggling before the first bell or the first meeting to determine whether their child should stay home, when is the appropriate time to notify school and work, arrange child care if parents can't take off work, contact a healthcare provider for immediate care, and communicate an unexpected absence or schedule change to an employer.

DrHouse, a 24/7 telehealth platform available in all 50 states, connects parents and children with physicians from home, reducing unnecessary disruption while keeping the child's health at the center of every decision. The platform's licensed physicians provide urgent care, primary care, prescriptions with on-demand delivery, and doctor's notes for work or school through virtual visits, so patients get care and paperwork without leaving home.

The findings from DrHouse's study highlight the hidden burden of school sick days, where a child's illness can quickly become a healthcare, school, and workplace challenge for an entire family.

The study also found that the need for documentation increases as children get older, with 41.9% of telehealth visits among high school-age patients ending with a note. School requirements vary considerably by district, with some requiring medical documentation for extended absences, excused-absence coding, make-up work, returning after certain contagious illnesses, or physical education accommodations.

For families with limited access to healthcare, transportation challenges, or inflexible work schedules, obtaining documentation can add another layer to an already stressful day. DrHouse physicians issue notes at their clinical discretion following an evaluation and when medically appropriate.

The findings raise a broader question for schools, healthcare providers, and employers: How can systems support responsible school attendance without making a child's routine illness unnecessarily disruptive for an entire family?