Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, president and CEO of Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale. Fla., shot and killed himself Saturday.
Broward Health Board Chairman David DiPietro confirmed the death late Saturday to the Sun Sentinel.
El Sanadi was also the system's chief of emergency medicine.
El Sanadi, an Egyptian immigrant, was appointed in December 2014. He was considered forward-thinking by many of his colleagues and in Oct. wrote a commentary for Modern Healthcare that offered insight into a system's decision to invest in telemedicine or brick and mortar facilities.
"We are deeply saddened by this devastating loss and our prayers go out to his family at this time," said a written release from Broward Health.
“Florida's safety net hospitals are deeply saddened today by the news of Dr. Nabil El Sanadi's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, colleagues and the countless patients whose lives he touched and made better. Dr. El Sanadi was an active and collegial member of the safety net hospital alliance board and both his contributions and his friendship will be missed,” said Tony Carvalho, president of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, in a written release.
In September, Broward Health was part of a record $69 million settlement with the federal government to settle allegations that it illegally paid nine doctors for referrals.
A whistle-blower alleged the hospital violated the Stark law, governing physician financial relationships, by paying employed doctors at levels beyond the fair market value based, in part, on their referrals to Broward Health hospitals and clinics. That, in turn, led to the submission of false claims to the government, in violation of the False Claims Act, the whistle-blower alleged.
Broward Health reported operating revenue of $971 million in 2014, according to Modern Healthcare's financial database.
