Aleta and Rich Taylor, co-founders and trustees of the Serviam Foundation in Saddle River, were moved by the efforts of the staff at Holy Name Medical Center during the opening weeks and months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, they found a way to thank them.
The Serviam Foundation announced it was donating $3 million to the hospital during the ribbon-cutting for Holy Name’s new state-of-the-art 19-bed ICU facility.
In gratitude for the gift, Holy Name announced the facility will be named the Serviam Foundation Intensive Care Unit.
Holy Name CEO Mike Maron said he greatly appreciated the donation — and the recognition of the work the staff did.
“Over the past year, our team gave everything they had in treating COVID-19 patients and all those with other medical issues, and in safeguarding patients and staff alike,” he said. “This extraordinary gift from the Serviam Foundation will allow us to build upon the lessons we learned this past year and continue to be a national leader in providing advanced critical care for the most vulnerable patients.”
The Taylors said the gift recognizes Holy Name’s outstanding patient care and the dedication of all its physicians, nurses and staff.
“Serviam is Latin for ‘I will serve,’” Rich Taylor said. “This was a way to deepen our concern for others and turn it into meaningful action. It was especially important to us that we recognize Holy Name’s heroes during National Physicians Week, in honor of their tremendous sacrifice during this global health crisis.”
The new ICU — which is expected to open Monday — will treat patients with all types of critical care needs. It will comprise advanced technology and innovative safety and infection control features, including:
- Nursing stations that accommodate nurse-to-patient ratios of 1:2;
- All negative-pressure rooms;
- Bipolar ionization system for air sterilization and far-UVC sanitizing lights to kill pathogens 24/7 in patient rooms;
- Motion-activated transparent-to-opaque windows for patient privacy;
- Remote-capable bedside care consoles with camera and HD monitoring with all-angle visibility;
- Motorized patient lift systems.
Cathleen Davey, president of the Holy Name Medical Center Foundation and vice president of development, said the impact will be felt by many.
“The Serviam Foundation’s support will enable Holy Name Medical Center to pioneer a new era in health care in northern New Jersey, to ensure that this advanced care is close to home for patients and families and to allow Holy Name to continue our mission that all life is sacred, at all stages,” she said.
The new 9,800-square-foot facility will be best in class. State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) said the ICU will be a huge help to one of the state’s hardest-hit areas.
“I personally know the Taylor family, and they have a legacy of supporting causes that have wide-reaching impacts like this one at Holy Name Medical Center,” Sarlo said. “I am honored to participate in today’s event, knowing vulnerable residents in Bergen County who need specialized critical care will have access to this state-of-the-art facility and Holy Name’s skilled team of experts. Congratulations to Holy Name and thank you to the Taylors.”
Holy Name was once the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey and one of the earliest and hardest hit hospitals in the U.S. The medical center’s previous ICU became overwhelmed quickly with patients. Within just 30 days, Holy Name’s facilities team built 276 negative-pressure rooms and 121 ICU beds for COVID-positive patients through retrofitting and new construction in a former hospital storage space and in-house conference center.
