1. No One Dies Alone
P R O G R A M
MIAD-15-12719
NODA Program Goals
• Provide compassionate companionship
for patients determined to be nearing
death and who are (for varying reasons)
unaccompanied by family or friends.
• Provide respite and moral support
for family or friends who may be
supporting a dying patient.
• Dignify, respect and comfort each
patient nearing the end-of-life.
Mission
Columbia St. Mary’s, a healthcare provider founded in response
to identified community needs, is sponsored by Ascension
Health, a Catholic national health system, and Columbia
Health System, a non-sectarian community health system.
Columbia St. Mary’s exists to make a positive difference in
the health status and lives of individuals and our community,
with special concern for those who are vulnerable.
At Columbia St. Mary’s we are committed to providing high quality,
accessible, values-driven programs and services with equal attention
to the physical, spiritual, and emotional dimensions of health.
CoreValues
Central to our Mission and Vision are Columbia St. Mary’s
Core Values of:
Respect A high regard for the
worth, dignity and uniqueness
of each person.
Integrity Honesty, openness
and sincerity.
Commitment to Excellence
A commitment to the highest
standards delivered with
competence and pride.
Creativity Actions that are
marked by innovation, flexibility,
openness to change, and
imagination.
Service Connecting with another
person through an act of
assistance or benefit.
Office of Mission Integration
Heritage Center | 2320 N. Lake Dr. | Milwaukee 53211
414-585-1246
A volunteer network of compassionate
companions who extend the mission and
core values of Columbia St. Mary’s to those
in our care nearing the end of life.
For More Information
Kerry Burmeister
Manager of Volunteer Services
414-585-4809
kburmeis@columbia-stmarys.org
Eamonn O’Keeffe
Director of Mission Integration
414-585-1246
eokee003@columbia-stmarys.org
NODAVolunteer
Requirements
¹.Attend one of the scheduled NODA
training/volunteer orientation sessions
(4 hours of training)
2.Request participation through Volunteer
Services (CSM contact Kerry Burmeister)
3.Complete required Volunteer Services
paperwork (includes updated health
history record)

2. Brief History
Sandra Clarke was working as an ICU nurse in
1986 when a dying patient asked,
“Will you stay with me?”
After leaving the man for only 30 minutes to
tend to other patients, when she returned the
man had passed-away alone. Motivated by
her hope to avoid repeating this experience,
and by her passion for patient care, Sandra
eventually formalized the first No One Dies
Alone (NODA) program in 2001 at Sacred
Heart Medical Center, Eugene, Oregon.
In 2003, Peace Health developed a NODA
Guide and began to share resources with
organizations without the restrictions of
copyright. Today there are more than 800
active NODA programs internationally,
operating in hospitals, nursing homes,
hospices and prisons.
The program is consistent with the mission and
identity of Columbia St. Mary’s and reflects an
organizational commitment to person-centered
compassionate care that is safe, that works,
and that leaves no one behind. Furthermore,
supporting NODA is a mutual commitment to
operational collaboration between the Office of
Mission Integration (Spiritual Care Department),
Volunteer Services, and Nursing. Looking
forward, additional Main Hospital units and
Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Ozaukee may be
activating NODA. To receive NODA program
support, a family may simply ask a nurse or
chaplain to activate the program.
In the hospital setting, a person may be
dying alone for a variety of reasons. Some
NODA patients have been critically injured in
a traumatic accident while traveling quite a
distance from their own home and loved ones.
Others may be aged and dying of a chronic
disease after a beloved spouse has previously
passed away. Still others may have family
nearby who are unable to sustain a 24-hour
vigil at the hospital. Whatever the reason,
NODA aims to provide human
care, compassion and comfort to
patients and families during their
most vulnerable moments.
No One DiesAlone at
Columbia St. Mary’s
In 2014, the Spiritual Care Department,
Volunteer Services and nursing leaders from
7 West and ICU in the Main Hospital agreed
to collaborate to develop and initiate a
NODA-style program for Columbia St. Mary’s.
Subsequently, the Columbia St. Mary’s
Foundation approved a grant to support
development of resources specifically targeted
to support NODA volunteer recruitment and
training. The NODA program was officially
piloted at Columbia St. Mary’s Main Hospital
(7 West and ICU) in April 2015.