The Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia will launch a new provider network in 2026 designed to reduce assessment and treatment wait times for workers injured on the job.
Under the new system, injured workers will be contacted within 24 hours of referral and assessed within three days for physical injuries or five days for concussions and psychological injuries. Currently, workers can wait up to 25 days for concussion treatment and up to 42 days for psychological treatment.
The network includes more than 100 independent clinics, many with multiple locations, as well as individual providers, Lifemark clinics and CBI clinics. A provider is available within 40 kilometres of 99 per cent of Nova Scotians, according to the WCB.
Provider continuity maintained
More than 95 per cent of workers currently receiving treatment can remain with their current provider, said Godfrey Jerry, the WCB’s chief operating officer. Workers who need to change providers will be matched to a new provider without interrupting treatment or return-to-work progress.
“We’re pleased most providers wanted to continue with us. That continuity matters — they know this work and the people they help,” Jerry said. “And now, with clear standards and accountability in place, we can help more Nova Scotians recover safely and return to work sooner.”
Early results show reduced wait times
A soft launch of the new approach has cut time from referral to assessment and from injury to treatment in half, according to the WCB. Case workers, providers and employers have provided positive feedback on the early results.
The network continues to grow, with additional providers joining regularly. All providers were invited to join the network, an offer that remains open.
More information available here: https://www.wcb.ns.ca/service-providers/work-connected-recovery-network
