MedLetter vs Walk-In Clinic for Sick Notes in Alberta
For decades, the only way to get a sick note in Alberta was to physically visit a walk-in clinic, wait 2-5 hours, see a doctor for 3 minutes, and receive a piece of paper confirming what you already knew: you were too sick to work. In 2026, there's a better option.
MedLetter provides the same physician-reviewed documentation without the clinic visit. Here's how the two options compare on every metric that matters.
Time Investment
Walk-in clinic: Drive to the clinic (15-30 min), wait in the waiting room (1-5 hours depending on the clinic and time of day), see the doctor (3-10 minutes), drive home (15-30 min). Total time: 2-6 hours.
MedLetter: Complete a 5-minute online form from your phone or computer. Receive your documentation via email within 1-4 hours. Total active time: 5 minutes.
Cost
Walk-in clinic: The physician visit is covered by Alberta Health Care, but many clinics charge a 'sick note fee' of $20-50 for the documentation itself. Plus you have transportation costs, parking, and lost time.
MedLetter: Flat $49 for a sick note. No hidden fees. Full refund if documentation cannot be issued. No transportation or parking costs.
Convenience When You're Sick
The irony of walk-in clinics: you're required to prove you're too sick to work by dragging yourself to a clinic when you're sick. You sit in a waiting room full of other sick people, potentially exposing yourself to additional illnesses, all to get a piece of paper.
MedLetter: Complete the form from your bed. No driving. No waiting room. No exposure to other sick people. No getting dressed. No leaving the house.
Medical Legitimacy
Both options produce documentation from licensed physicians. Walk-in clinic notes come from a physician who physically examined you. MedLetter notes come from a CPSA-registered physician who reviewed your reported symptoms.
Alberta Employment Standards does not distinguish between in-person and virtual medical assessments for documentation purposes. Both are equally valid and accepted by employers.
When a Walk-In Clinic Is Better
Choose a walk-in clinic if: you need treatment (not just documentation), your symptoms are severe or worsening, you need a physical examination, you need a prescription, or your employer specifically requires an in-person assessment (rare, and potentially challengeable).
Choose MedLetter if: you specifically need documentation, you're too sick to leave the house, you don't have time to wait 3-5 hours, there's no walk-in clinic near you, or you don't have a family doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my employer accept an online sick note?
Yes. Alberta recognizes telemedicine assessments as equivalent to in-person visits. Documentation from CPSA-registered physicians is legally valid regardless of assessment method.
Is a walk-in clinic note 'better' than an online note?
No. Both are issued by licensed physicians. The legal standing is identical. Some employers may have outdated preferences, but they cannot legally reject valid physician documentation.
What if I need both treatment and a note?
If you need medical treatment (prescription, examination), visit a clinic. If you only need documentation, MedLetter is faster and more convenient.
Are walk-in clinic sick notes free?
The physician visit is covered by Alberta Health Care, but many clinics charge a separate 'sick note fee' of $20-50. This fee is not covered by provincial health insurance.
Walk-in clinic wait times and fees vary by location and time of day. The figures cited are based on typical Alberta walk-in clinic experiences reported by patients.
Get My Sick Note — $49