SHARP Advisory Council: Announcement of Quarterly Business Meeting – 12/09/15
The public is notified that the SHARP Advisory Council will meet in its scheduled regular Quarterly Business Meeting on Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm for the purpose of discussing overarching program concepts, potentially issuing formal recommendations (if any), and conducting business of the Council and of program overall.
Detail follows:
Purpose: To deliberate on overarching program concepts, to articulate system values & program priorities, to potentially issue formal recommendations, and to conduct business of the Council and of program overall. These issues may include, but are not limited to, program policies, resources, budgets, timelines and other factors that impact the program.
Date & Time: Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 from 1:30 – 4:30 pm (up to 3.0 hrs. & no more)
Locations: Two locations will be used, & linked both telephonically and by videoconference
Anchorage: AMHTA Building, 3745 Community Park Loop, conference room 210
Directions are available by calling 907- 269-7960
Juneau: Alaska Office Building, 350 Main Street, conference room 416
Directions are available by calling 907-465-3091
Council Attendance: In-person (preferred) in Anchorage & Juneau, with videoconference
Alternative: Teleconference (800) 944-8766, and then dial 18105
Agenda (draft):
1:30 – Call to order: Chair – Randi Sweet
· Public comment period
1:45 – New business
3:40 – [Break]
3:50 – New business (cont.)
4:15 – Old business & other
4:30 – Adjourn
The public is welcome to attend, however public testimony or input will be taken only during agenda-identified time-slot(s).
Alaska’s SHARP Program provides recruitment and retention services for Alaska’s healthcare workforce. The purpose of SHARP is to recruit and retain healthcare professionals to serve in DHSS-designated healthcare service shortage areas in exchange for the repayment of qualifying education loans &/or payment of direct incentive, pursuant to a signed SHARP memorandum of agreement with the State of Alaska. The first participants in SHARP began service in June 2010.
The SHARP Advisory Council is a deliberative body composed of 15 voting agencies, with 2 more as ex-officio. Alaska statute AS 18.20 requires that a permanent interagency advisory body be convened, and meet at least quarterly. Council’s voting membership is outlined in regulation, with specific members currently including: AK Academy of Physician Assistants, AK Behavioral Health Association, AK Commission on Post-Secondary Education, AK Dental Society, AK Department of Labor, AK Mental Health Trust Authority, AK Native Tribal Health Consortium, AK Nurses Association, AK Pharmacists Association, AK Primary Care Association, AK State Hospital & Nursing Hm Association, AK Family Medicine Residency Program, National Association of Social Workers - Alaska, United Way of Anchorage, & University of Alaska, College of Health. Ex-officio members include AK Native Health Board, and AK Division of Public Health.
Council identifies and recommends priority healthcare practitioners for award from the extant pool of otherwise eligible applicants. Selected healthcare practitioners sign a multi-year memorandum of agreement (service contract) stating their commitment to serve in identified high-need areas and facilities. Both full-time and half-time FTE are considered. DHSS reserves the right to not accept any or all applications received, &/or recommended by Council, and further, it retains the option to solicit again for more candidates. Program details and example of the MOA service contract are found at: (http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/healthplanning/sharp/).
For more information about Alaska’s SHARP support-for-service program overall, see the DHSS website at: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/healthplanning/sharp/ .
Robert Sewell, Ph.D., SHARP Program Manager, is available for questions via e-mail at robert.sewell@alaska.gov or by phone 907-465-4065.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this process, contact Robert Sewell to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.