Injured workers in New Brunswick no longer have to travel to the Saint John area for rehabilitation care.

WorkSafeNB recently announced that it has rolled out a new rehabilitation care model for injured workers.

Care Closer to Home was initially tested in 2020 during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because of the pandemic, the agency had been forced to suspend services at its rehabilitation centre in Grand Bay-Westfield.

The new model will allow workers to receive care in the comfort of their own homes rather than travelling to the centre.

“By reducing the need for long-distance travel, workers will receive quality care with greater convenience,” president and CEO Tim Petersen said in a news release.

“This approach ensures our clients receive timely and effective treatment, while keeping them connected to family, friends, their employer, and co-workers – networks crucial to a safe recovery and successful return-to-work outcomes.”

WorkSafeNB said it believes the “modern approach” will better support the overall well-being of clients and facilitate a smooth transition back to work.

“With improved technology and increased accessibility to providers, WorkSafeNB can better serve workers within their communities,” said Petersen.

No one from WorkSafeNB was available for an interview to discuss the new model or what will happen to the rehabilitation centre.

But in a statement, spokesperson Laragh Dooley said they are “currently exploring options” for the rehabilitation centre building.