The ACRH serves as Alaska's State Office of Rural Health under a contract with the Alaska Division of Public Health. In 1992, the Alaska Commissioner of Health and Social Services designated ACRH to serve as the state's Office of Rural Health. The ACRH, acting as the State Office Of Rural Health, provides technical assistance to rural health providers and to communities, assists state, local and federal government to clarify and carry out their rural health policies, and publishes a rural health newsletter, Alaska Rural Health Notes . The ACRH also supports efforts by governments and provider agencies to recruit and retain an adequate supply of health care workers. Activities include community surveying, focus groups, key informant interviews, institutional financial analysis, medical practice assessments, board training and executive coaching, plan formation and writing, and plan implementation.
Technical assistance is provided on a daily basis by phone, e-mail, and in person.
Yet, a system of assessment and description does not currently exist that could shed light on what our current condition is. A major thrust of the ACRH in coming years will be to establish a system of assessment that will provide this kind of information about Alaska's health workforce. The Board of Directors of ACRH believe such a system will be vital for educators and providers as they endeavor to predict future workforce needs. Providence Dr. Diplomacy Bldg.