Saint Mary's Life Center

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Saint Mary's Life Center
135 South Center Street
Orange, NJ 07050
Tel: (973) 266-3000

Treating the Elderly With Dignity and Compassion

As part of a commitment to better serving Newark and the Oranges, the Pope John Paul II Pavilion opened in 1996 at Saint Mary’s Life Center. The 147-bed facility is an example of Cathedral Healthcare System’s mission in action. Offering a complete range of medical services to its residents – from minimal-assistance residential care to 24-hour, round-the-clock professional skilled nursing to subacute and rehabilitation services – the facility meets both the medical and emotional needs of the elderly.

One of the most unique aspects of the Pope John Paul II Pavilion is its 30-bed Ventilator Unit. Directed by Marc Adelman, M.D., who also serves as the Director of Critical Care at Saint Michael’s Medical Center, the Ventilator Unit is Essex County’s largest inpatient center for ventilator-dependent patients. Patients here have the freedom to move around the building with their vents, so that they can maintain fairly normal lives and attend recreational activities when appropriate. Some patients have actually been able to attend events outside the building by using portable vents.

The staff provides top-notch respiratory therapy, nutritional support services, and rehabilitation services. There is even a beauty salon to meet the aesthetic needs of our elderly population. Patients come from all over the East Coast to receive the specialized services provided here.

Residents of the Pope John Paul II Pavilion benefit from a variety of on-site medical services, including laboratory, X-ray, dental and eye care, and wound management. Specialized services include the treatment and management of patients with respiratory illness, orthopedic accidents, stroke, head trauma, or coma. Neurological case management and transitional rehabilitative services are also offered to help reduce a patient ’s dependence on a ventilator.

Medical services at the Pope John Paul II Pavilion are directed by a physician who is board-certified in internal medicine and geriatric medicine. The director is joined by a dedicated team of compassionate healthcare providers, including registered nurses, therapists, speech and language pathologists, case managers, and social workers.