Manatee Memorial Hospital Recognizes Dr. Daniel Friedman for 1,000 WATCHMAN™ Implants
Manatee Memorial Hospital (MMH) proudly recognizes Dr. Daniel Friedman, Medical Director of the hospital’s WATCHMAN™ Program, for achieving a remarkable milestone, 1,000 successful WATCHMAN™ implants performed since the program’s inception in 2015.
This milestone places Dr. Daniel Friedman among the top 20 physicians in the United States for WATCHMAN™ implants—a distinction that reflects his exceptional expertise, leadership and unwavering dedication to advancing care for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). In honor of this outstanding achievement, Boston Scientific Corporation presented Dr. Friedman with acommemorative “1,000 WATCHMAN” shadow box, recognizing his significant contributions to the field of structural heart medicine and his continued commitment to high-quality care at Manatee Memorial Hospital.
Earlier this year, Manatee Memorial Hospital surpassed 2,000 total WATCHMAN™ procedures, earning a Top 10 national ranking among more than 650 hospitals in the United States. Under Dr. Friedman’s direction, the hospital’s WATCHMAN™ Program has become a model of clinical excellence and innovation.
The WATCHMAN™ implant is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation by closing the left atrial appendage (LAA)—a small area of the heart where blood clots can form. By reducing the risk of clot migration, many patients are able to minimize or discontinue long-term use of blood thinners, improving both safety and quality of life.
“Dr. Friedman’s milestone is a testament to his skill, leadership and commitment to patient care,” saidAndy Guz, CEO of Manatee Memorial Hospital. “His expertise has been instrumental in building one of the most successful WATCHMAN programs in the nation, helping patients live longer, healthier lives.”
For more information about the WATCHMAN™ program at Manatee Memorial Hospital, please visit Heart and Vascular Center | Manatee Memorial Hospital, Florida, www.manateememorial.com/heart.
About Manatee Health
Proudly serving the residents of Manatee, Hillsborough, and surrounding counties for more than 70 years, Manatee Health represents an entire network of healthcare services. These include freestanding emergency departments, outpatient imaging, rehabilitation and sports medicine, home health, surgical and specialty physician services, and all the inpatient services offered by Manatee Memorial Hospital including advanced stroke care and vascular disease, emergency medicine for all ages; cardiac; cardiovascular; surgical, including robotic; orthopedics; respiratory care; sleep services; oncology; wound care and women’s and children’s services including Manatee County’s only Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. For information on hospital services, visit manateehealth.com.
Pictured Andy Guz, CEO Mantee Memorial Hospital with Dr. Daniel Friedman with Bradenton Cardiology Center
Dr. Friedman's 1,000 implant milestone really underscores WATCHMAN's clinical adoption and Boston Scientific's strategic position in structural heart. The fact that Manatee Memorial reached 2,000 total procedures shows the procedure volume is building, which should help Boston Scientific maintain its dominance in LAA closure against competitors like Abbott. Reducing blood thinner dependancy for AFib patients is a major value proposition that continues to drive adoption. The top 10 national ranking among 650+ hospitals is impressve validation of the program's quality.