Sharita Thomas, MPP

North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center

Phone: 757.705.3800
Email: srthomas@email.unc.edu
X: @rural_rita

Department of Health Policy and Management
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
135 Dauer Drive
1101 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB #7411
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599

Publications - (10)

Publications - (10)

2021

Alternatives to Hospital Closure: Findings From a National Survey of CAH Executives
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 02/2021
Despite the many challenges of operating a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), little research examines the perspectives of CAH executives on potential community healthcare options if the CAH closed. This brief provides policymakers with a better understanding of what CAH executives think about the viability of various alternatives to closure.
Health System Challenges for Critical Access Hospitals: Findings From a National Survey of CAH Executives
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 02/2021
Despite the numerous challenges of operating a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), there is little research examining the perspectives of CAH executives on potential community healthcare options if the CAH closed. This brief presents a subset of results from a national survey of CAH executive perspectives on pressing challenges.

2019

Geographic Variation in the 2019 Risk of Financial Distress Among Rural Hospitals
Policy Brief
Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 04/2019
This brief investigates 2019 geographic variation in risk of financial distress among rural hospitals.
Trends in Risk of Financial Distress Among Rural Hospitals, 2015 to 2019
Policy Brief
Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 04/2019
This brief investigates 2015 to 2019 trends in risk of financial distress among rural hospitals by census region and Medicare payment classification.

2018

Rural Hospital Mergers From 2005 Through 2016
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 08/2018
This brief describes the number and geographic distribution of rural hospital mergers from 2005-2016.

2016

To What Extent Do Community Characteristics Explain Differences in Closure Among Financially Distressed Rural Hospitals?
Journal Article
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 11/2016
This study examined the differences between rural hospitals at high risk of financial distress that stayed open and those that closed.
Does ACA Insurance Coverage Expansion Improve the Financial Performance of Rural Hospitals?
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 04/2016
Views on how the implementation of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) expanded insurance coverage is affecting the financial performance of rural hospitals. The study found that while respondents believe the expanded insurance coverage was the right thing to do for patients, they worried coverage may not be adequate to ensure access to care.
2012-14 Profitability of Urban and Rural Hospitals by Medicare Payment Classification
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 03/2016
The profitability of urban hospitals to that of rural hospitals are compared for fiscal years 2012-2014 based on size and rural Medicare payment classifications.
Geographic Variation in the Profitability of Urban and Rural Hospitals
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 03/2016
Historic and recent evidence suggest that unprofitability can reduce hospital services and quality, or worse, lead to closure. This study describes the current geographic variability of hospital profitability by comparing the 2014 profitability of CAHs, other rural hospitals, and urban hospitals by census region, census division, and state.

2015

The Rising Rate of Rural Hospital Closures
Journal Article
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 07/2015
Discusses the increase in rural hospital closure rates, including the causes of closures and its impact on rural communities.