Officials from seven counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania were scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss forming a regional health department.
Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan confirmed to KDKA Radio Lawrence, Beaver, Butler, Washington, Green, Fayette and Westmoreland Counties will review potential criteria for an exploration committee at a 1:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday.
Vaughn said the committee members will likely be a diverse groups of experts in healthcare, finance, law, public health, and environmental health to further explore a regional health department.
Some commissioners in the seven counties have been vocal about difficulties they say they've experienced with the PA State Health Department during the pandemic.
Vaughn says that is partly the reason why they're exploring a regional health department.
"A number of county commissioners are just frustrated with how the state has handled this pandemic from the very beginning, and now the rollout of the vaccine," she said.
In criteria provided to KDKA Radio by the state health department, the first official step for counties to establish a local health department is notifying the Secretary of Health.
That can be done either by passing a resolution or submitting the question for a referendum at the next municipal election.
