No One Dies AloneP 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.

MissionColumbia 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.

Core ValuesCentral 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 InformationKerry 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

NODA Volunteer 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)

Brief HistorySandra 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 Dies Alone at Columbia St. Mary’sIn 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.