def METHOD_NAME(
    self,
    alert_handler_type: str,
    message: str,
    level: str = BaseAlertHandler.ERROR,
    exc: Exception = None,
    tap_slack_channel: str = None
) -> bool:
    """
    Sends an alert message to a specific alert handler type
    Args:
        alert_handler_type: type of the alert handler (slack, rollbar, etc.)
        message: alert text message to send
        level: alert level
        exc: optional exception that triggered the alert
        tap_slack_channel: optional specific tap slack channel
    Returns:
        True if alert sent successfully
    """
    # Get the alert handler class
    alert_handler = self.__get_alert_handler(alert_handler_type)
    # Initialise and create an alert handler object from the the alert handler spec
    handler = self.__init_handler_class(alert_handler)
    if alert_handler_type == 'slack':
        handler.send(message=message, level=level, exc=exc, tap_slack_channel=tap_slack_channel)
    else:
        handler.send(message=message, level=level, exc=exc)
    # Alert sent successfully
    return True