The present invention provides single sheet and compound para-xylene films for therapeutic uses. For example, the present invention provides single sheet para-xylene films useful as tissue separators and/or adhesion barriers in a subject, where the top and/or bottom surfaces of such films have a water contact angle between 75 and 95 degrees (e.g., to prevent adhesion formation). The present invention also provides compound films composed of at least two para-xylene polymer films with a therapeutic molecule layer in between. Such compound films, when used in vivo (e.g., as a tissue separator and to treat inflammation or atrial fibrillation) allow either therapeutic molecule elution through one of the para-xylene layers, or therapeutic molecule release when the compound film is pierced, such as when it is sutured in place.