(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

At the February 24 work session, Commissioner Chairman Dan Camp spoke about a future plan that has stemmed from the past year’s dealing with the coronavirus pandemic–one that could change the future of healthcare in Beaver County.

“Seven counties in the Southwestern region–Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Greene counties–met on a regional call to discuss a potential regional department of health.”, Camp said. “It was a very good and informal meeting run by Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan out of Washington County.”

Pennsylvania currently has six counties along with four municipalities–including Allegheny County–that have independent health departments that work in conjunction, but not full submitting, with the State DOH.

However, despite the early good talks, Camp said that this process will take some time.

“It’s just the beginning of the discussions,” he said, “and I think we’re very far out from any conclusion.” Camp cited the recent efforts by Delaware County to obtain their own health department, mentioning how they are three years into the process without a conclusion of their own.