Minnesota RETAIN: a program to help people stay at or return to work after injury or illness

Minnesota Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) Phase 3

Not applicable Interventional Mayo Clinic · NCT07037927

This project will try expanding the RETAIN program in Minnesota to see if its services help injured or ill adults stay at work or return to work and reduce future workplace disability.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment1000 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMayo Clinic Academic / other
Locations1 site (Rochester, Minnesota)
Trial IDNCT07037927 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

MN RETAIN Phase 3 is a non-randomized implementation project led by Minnesota DEED with Mayo Clinic as a subrecipient and funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Partners across the state will offer coordinated early-intervention RETAIN services focused on stay-at-work and return-to-work supports for adults with work-limiting injuries or illnesses. Eligible participants are Minnesota residents who are employed (W2) or actively in the workforce and have documented work restrictions or recent job separation. The effort will expand proven practices statewide, track workforce retention and subsequent workplace disability outcomes, and use administrative and clinical collaboration to deliver services.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18+) who live and work or plan to work in Minnesota and who have a recent injury, illness, or upcoming procedure that limits employment, with documented work restrictions or recent job separation within six months.

Not a fit: People who live outside Minnesota, who are not W2 employees or not actively in the workforce, or whose health condition does not affect their ability to work are unlikely to benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help injured or ill workers keep their jobs or return to work sooner and lower their risk of future workplace disability.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier RETAIN implementations and pilot programs in other states have shown promising results for stay-at-work and return-to-work outcomes, and this project expands on that experience.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* \> 18-years-old,
* MN Resident,
* Works or intends to work in MN,

Meets one of the following:

* Employed at the time of enrollment (must be a W2 employee) OR,
* Unemployed and in the workforce (looking for a job) referred by either:
* Dislocated Worker (DW) Program,
* Healthcare provider/care team managing work restrictions
* Within 6 months of last day of work,

Meets one of the following:

* Provider work restrictions of unable to work for at least 2 weeks
* Per healthcare team anticipated to be unable to work for at least 2 weeks
* Employer's inability to accommodate current work restrictions

Meets one of the following:

* Diagnosis of a personal injury or illness that impacts employment (acute injury/illness or exacerbation of a chronic condition).
* Surgery or procedure anticipated within the next 4-weeks that impacts employment
* Documentation of work restrictions (i.e., written note/form documentation in electronic medical record prior to enrollment)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Does not have the capacity to give appropriate informed consent,
* Active workers' compensation claim relating to the qualifying injury or illness,
* Pending application OR Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or -Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
* Self-Employed (i.e., 1099 worker)

Where this trial is running

Rochester, Minnesota

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Injuries Related WorkIllness Related WorkDisabilityRETAINMinnesota RETAINMN RETAINIllness RecoveryInjury Recovery
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.