Take Another Shot at Relief. You're Worth It.
With Fern’s personalized support and coaching, you’ll go beyond focusing on just the physical symptoms of pain.
That’s because Fern addresses the physical, mental, and social aspects of pain to improve physical function and quality of life.
Make Fern your own
Sign-up and you can see progress with
just 15 minutes a day, a few days each week.
Fern can help you address persistent
pain resulting from:
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues
- Chronic headaches, like migraine and tension types
- Fibromyalgia
- General widespread pain
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
- And more...
What you get with Fern

Personal Care Plan
Your pain is unique to you. Fern will help you understand your pain and learn what you can do to manage it with tailored education and activities for you each week.

Human Health Coach
From Day 1, you are paired with a real, live health coach. You can call or message your coach at any time. They will help you set goals, break through obstacles, and stay on track.

Custom Welcome Kit
When you enroll in Fern, we'll ship you a welcome kit tailored to your specific pain area. It will contain everything you need to complete your program, along with a few extra goodies, just for fun.
Our members say it best
"I learned about Fern as part of my employer benefits and went through the program. Now, I'm going out more and enjoying life. Pain no longer rules my life."
Lillie
Teacher and Fern member
"The exercise program was a real success for me. They were at my ability level so I could follow through with them, instead of getting frustrated and quitting."
Peg
Retired nurse, Fern member
Ready to take that shot?
Here are a few things to know before you begin.
👉 Plan to spend 10 minutes answering a series of questions about your pain experience so we can customize your care plan.
👉 Make sure to order your Fern welcome kit that includes everything you need for success. It will be shipped directly to you.
👉 A few times a week, log-in to Fern to complete your daily tasks. They should take no more than 10-15 minutes.
👉 While engaging with a health coach isn't required, members who do talk to a coach see better results. You can set up a call or message them directly through the Fern app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can sign up for Fern?
Fern is open to employees and their adult dependents (age 18+) enrolled in the Certificated Employee Health Plan. Fern is also available to retirees and adult dependents who are under age 65, not yet eligible for Medicare and enrolled in the Certificated Retiree Health Plan.
How much does Fern cost me?
There is no cost to you. Fern is a benefit paid for entirely by MNPS.
How do I sign up for Fern?
Click here to get started. You'll fill out some basic information and then answer some questions about your pain experience to help customize your care plan.
All in, it will take you about 15 minutes to sign up.
How does the program work?
First, take a brief pain assessment. Then you’ll be matched with your health coach, who will work with you throughout your personalized program. You’ll engage in short education sessions to learn how pain works and how you can retrain your brain to process pain differently. You’ll also have access to videos that will guide you through clinically proven therapeutic exercises. Throughout the program, you’ll work toward goals in daily movement, sleep, emotional health, and nutrition.
How much time does the Fern program require?
We've designed Fern to fit into your daily life. To get the most out of Fern, we recommend using it a minimum of 15 minutes a day, 3 days a week.
But as with anything, the more you put in, the more you'll get out!
Do I need any special equipment?
No. All you need is access to an internet browser through a computer, tablet, or smart phone. We’ll send you the rest in your Fern welcome kit.
What's in the Fern Welcome Kit?
Once you’ve completed your first day of activities, Fern will mail you a welcome kit with the gear you need. Each kit is customized based on your pain area and will include all the equipment you need to participate, plus some extra goodies that will help you sleep and de-stress.
Additionally, as an MNPS employee, you'll receive a Garmin vívofit® 4, a wearable activity tracker that is yours to keep. Connect it to Fern to keep track of your daily movement and sleep quality.
How fit do I need to be to participate?
Not ready for exercise yet? That's okay. Engaging in therapeutic exercise is not required to participate in or benefit from Fern.
When you are ready, Fern's therapeutic exercise program is customized to your level of activity and mobility. You can go at your pace.
What's the science behind the program?
Fern was created based on best practices from leading pain physicians. It’s proven that learning how pain works in your body and focusing on how pain interferes with your daily life helps retrain the brain to process pain differently.
Who will see my personal health information?
Nobody except Fern. By law, they cannot share your data with anyone else, including your employer.
Who do I contact for support?
If you are experiencing difficulty within Fern, please contact fernsupport@realizedcare.com.
You can also find additional resources related to Fern, including extra Workbook pages and How To Guides at our Member Resources page.