Doctors and nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat many common medical conditions virtually on Maple, including prescribing medications at their discretion.
Common ineligible requests include:
Medical emergencies
Maple cannot be used for emergency healthcare. If you're experiencing a medical emergency (like trouble breathing), you should call 911 or head to the nearest ER.
Urgent or severe symptoms that cannot be treated virtually
The following are examples of urgent symptoms that cannot be treated through Maple:
Chest pains
Difficulty breathing
Fever in children under the age of three months
Blackouts or feeling like you may blackout
Any impairment in level of consciousness
Stroke-like symptoms such as impaired sensation or paralysis on one side of your body
Inability to speak or comprehend language
Any abdominal pain severe enough that you're unable to walk comfortably
Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Other urgent or severe symptoms may also require in-person care.
Prescriptions for controlled substances
Unless a healthcare practitioner has an ongoing treating relationship with you, they're not permitted to prescribe certain kinds of medication including narcotics, controlled substances or other types of controlled medications, non-therapeutic drugs and other drugs, which may be harmful because of their potential for abuse.
Conditions that require in-person care
Some conditions, including certain physical health issues and complex mental health concerns, may require a physical examination, testing or more in-depth assessment that cannot be performed virtually. In these cases, please look into walk-in clinics or other clinics near you.
If you experience a drug reaction, side effect or adverse event, please report it to your primary care practitioner. If you don't have one, report it to a walk-in clinic, or in an emergency, head to the nearest ER or call 911.
Inappropriate sick note requests
The decision to issue a sick note is always at the discretion of the healthcare practitioner. Before requesting a sick note, please take a moment to review the limitations in our Getting a sick note article here.
Medical form requests
Please note that our doctors and nurse practitioners cannot complete specific forms, including:
Fitness-for-duty or return-to-work assessments: Some employers or institutions require an in-person evaluation before issuing clearance for work, school or other activities
Disability or insurance-related forms: Forms requiring a detailed medical history, functional assessment or physical examination may not be eligible for completion through virtual care
Medical exemptions requiring physical verification: Certain exemption requests, such as those for vaccinations or physical activity limitations, may require in-person evaluation
Forms that require specialized assessments: Some medical forms, such as those for driver's license medical exams, pre-employment screenings or workplace accommodations, may require additional testing that cannot be conducted virtually
We're here to support you.
Unsure if your request is suitable for Maple? Submit it anyway using best practices we've outlined here. If virtual care is appropriate for your needs or concerns, you'll be notified right when a practitioner accepts your request. If it isn't, you'll be redirected and provided with clear rationale and recommended next steps to guide you toward the most appropriate, safe way to get care.