THE DATA WIZARDS BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Managing your data and documents securely at Nayaadamaagejig

By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor

Your Nayaadamaagejig data is personal, private, and powerful. It tells your story in ways you might never imagine. But after meeting with your Nayaadamaagejig staff member, it enters a hidden world — a complex web of servers, software, and specialists who manage every detail. Behind the curtain, Health and Human Services information managers and IT teams working with Nayaadamaagejig have transformed scattered records into a streamlined system, making it possible for providers across the agency to connect the dots of your care with speed, accuracy, and security.

At Nayaadamaagejig, behind every client record are data stewards — the quiet professionals making sure every detail is accurate, complete, and usable. They don't just enter numbers; they interpret, organize, and translate raw information into insights that help staff make better decisions and connect the dots at Nayaadamaagejig. The IT teams work together, streamlining records across Nayaadamaagejig so data moves securely and efficiently. Together, they've transformed Nayaadamaagejig technology, moving from paper to electronic systems like OneTribe and LaserFiche. Automated processes, clear definitions, and user-friendly forms and workflows now reduce paperwork and make information more accessible. Rarely seen, these stewards and their IT partners are the unsung heroes keeping data connected, meaningful, and ready to improve patient care.

Lisa Johnson, Business Process Improvement Manager, and Eric Pederson, Support Engineer, have been continuing to make improvements to the workflow of your Nayaadamaagejig data which in turn helps to streamline the ability of the current technology to share information within Nayaadamaagejig.

"We have been looking at how we do business and how we can make it better" Johnson said. "We look at all the processes we are doing within human services and managing the data. Eric has been managing the OneTribe software at Nayaadamaagejig and is able to pull information from that. The goal is to make employee's jobs easier so that they can spend more time on the client facing side interacting with the clients as opposed to having to push paper. We want them to be able to move information electronically so that we can retrieve information easily with data attached to that information so we can have good metrics to show what kind of progress we are making or where we need help."

Pederson has been cleaning up an enormous amount of paper files — 52 banker boxes filled with papers - and uploading those into the Laserfiche repository, where documents are stored. "Think of it as a big library," Johnson said. Pederson has also taken on managing the case management software called One Tribe.

By utilizing all of this technology, it is proving a more streamlined approach to be able to deliver to the clients a faster process. The manual processing of the jumble of physical paperwork could take days. "Some of the software we use in Nayaadamaagejig has timers set, and reminders automatically go out to the team members to 'please finish this task.'" Johnson said.

They are currently investigating optional case management software programs to "make things even better [within Nayaadamaagejig]," Johnson said. "We are always looking for software that makes sense and is cost effective and that it will do the job. We don't make the decisions; we just present the information so that the individuals who make the decisions have the proper information to make the best possible decisions."

Johnson highlighted the need for transparency and the importance of learning from crisis situations to identify and address gaps in processes. She also stressed that building and improving workflows is an ongoing process that requires iterative development and adaptation.

"Eric is instrumental in managing this information," Johnson stressed.

Both Johnson and Pederson said they appreciate the camaraderie of the IT team on the healthcare side under the direction of Cassie Brown, Director of Clinical informatics/ Information Technology. The healthcare side integrated Epic, which has all of your healthcare information and keeps it secure which is separate from the Nayaadamaagejig side.

"We communicate well together," Pederson said. "I enjoy the challenge of what I do every day, and new challenges that come down the pipeline. It massages my brain instead of just sitting there stagnant. That is what I really enjoy about the position."

"We are nerds!" Johnson said. "We get really excited when we can make something work. It is problem solving. Always."

Behind the curtain, it's easy to overlook the people and systems that make all of this possible. But thanks to the dedication of data stewards, IT teams, and process improvement specialists like Lisa Johnson and Eric Pederson, the Mille Lacs Band Nayaadamaagejig has turned a mountain of paperwork into a seamless, secure, and efficient system. Their work ensures that your data isn't just stored — it's connected, protected, and ready to support better care. In the end, the real story behind the curtain is one of teamwork, innovation, and a commitment to putting people first.