BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watermark Medical, Inc. (Watermark), a privately-held medical products and services company currently servicing the sleep-disordered breathing market, has formed an exclusive partnership with SleepPro Network and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) to provide obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening, diagnostic evaluation and treatment for current and former NFL players.
Watermark becomes the only authorized home sleep testing and therapy provider for the NFLPA. Charlie Alvarez, President of Watermark, commented, “We are very excited to be working with the NFLPA to assist in the awareness and early identification of sleep apnea.” Sleep apnea is a serious, under-diagnosed and treatable medical condition that is directly linked to depression, memory loss, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Dan Marino adds, “I am pleased to see the NFLPA addressing undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. It is a true benefit to the health and wellbeing of its members.”
The sleep program will begin with a risk assessment screening of over 6000 former players, followed by diagnostic evaluation using home sleep testing technology and appropriate treatment when applicable. “Player health continues to be a top priority of the NFLPA. With the link to so many co-morbid conditions, targeting and treating OSA directly within our membership will have immeasurable impact” stated Andre Collins, NFLPA Director of Health Services.
About Watermark Medical:
Watermark Medical developed and pioneered cloud-based home sleep testing for obstructive sleep apnea facilitating delivery of care by primary care physicians with integrated professional review and interpretation by boarded sleep physicians. Information technology management company CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) is Watermark Medical’s largest investor. The company is a privately held healthcare information technology company headquartered in Boca Raton, FL.
About SleepPro Network:
SleepPro Network is a Washington, DC based healthcare provider to patients with sleep related breathing disorders. The SleepPro Network’s founders have over 12 years of experience in the development, accreditation and management of sleep labs throughout the United States. SleepPro Network’s mission is to actively educate, advocate and treat professional, collegiate, and amateur athletes and their family members suffering from various forms of sleep related breathing disorders and co-morbidities.
About the NFLPA:
The National Football League Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests. The responsibility of the organization is to represent the players in matters concerning wages, hours, and working conditions, to protect their rights as professional athletes, and to ensure the terms of a collective bargaining agreement are enforced. Additionally, the organization negotiates and monitors retirement and insurance benefits and aims to enhance and defend the image of players and their profession. The NFLPA is headquartered in Washington, DC.