Important Determinants of Health

As local communities continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the population and resource availability becomes increasingly important. Accessibility and affordability of healthcare are crucial during these times, as the virus does not discriminate against whom it affects. While the pandemic has caused changes in everyone’s lives, individuals without health insurance, access to transportation, and access to mental health services are a part of the population that is being particularly negatively affected.

To focus on the specific challenges faced by a local community during this pandemic, this blog will focus on the Albany, New York area and its population (1).

Health Insurance

In the U.S., there are over 28 million uninsured individuals (2). It can be incredibly expensive to try and afford basic care without health insurance, and patients without health insurance are limited in the providers they can see and make appointments with. Uninsured people are therefore far less likely to get medical care, which means they are not receiving yearly checkups and don’t have access to preventative measures, such as cancer screenings or blood pressure tests. In many cases, medical care is only sought in emergencies.

While the uninsured rate in New York has decreased in recent years, there are few options for those that are uninsured in Albany. One of these options is Surya Immediate Medical Care– while not currently accepting any ill patients due to the pandemic, the center accepts patients without insurance and allows self-payments. A new visit costs $150, while an established visit costs $100. Charges for additional services like strep tests and x-rays are listed on their website. For dental health, Aspen Dental in Albany is a practice that provides free exams and x-rays on the first visit, without insurance.

Access to Transportation

Being able to make an appointment is one thing, but actually getting to the doctor’s office is another– access to transportation is something that can often prevent patients from receiving the healthcare they need. One of the COVID-19 testing sites in Albany is at SUNY Albany. However, to be tested, individuals need transportation to the testing site and must be in a vehicle when they are being tested. Some resources that provide transportation include UberHealth, Medanswering services for individuals with Medicaid, and CDTA transit for Albany county resident seniors over the age of 60.

More recently, some mobile testing sites have become available and are listed here, which can allow some individuals to have access to testing without needing transportation, depending on where they live.

Mental Health Services

Mental health is an equally large component and contributor to overall health and wellbeing as physical health. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals are experiencing loneliness, anxiety, and other mental health issues as daily lifestyles have changed due to quarantine and social interaction is limited. To try and support individuals at home, some hotlines have become available 24/7 or throughout the week to provide help. A COVID-19 support line is available at (518) 269-6634, from 8 am to 8 pm every day. Additional hotlines and mental health resources in Albany are listed here.

While the Albany area has begun to respond to changes in healthcare availability and accessibility due to the pandemic, there are still some areas that can be improved upon, such as increased access to basic care and preventative services for people who are uninsured. Additionally, access to health insurance, transportation, and mental health services are only a few of the determinants of health and wellbeing– what do you think your local community can improve upon when it comes to the health of its population?

131,647 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health

  1. You brought up a great point about people needing to be able to drive to the COVID testing sites and actually stay in their car. It is great to see that they now have the mobile testing units to ensure that everyone can be tested.

    Reply

    1. Hello, I must say that I found this blog post very useful and interesting to read. Construction Dissertations I do hope that you publish more material as it helps me as a final year student at university. Thanks.

      Reply

    2. These influential topic of local communities continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, is so real and advanced to knowing but there are also very effective and the useful needs, requirement in every home that are Plastic Products in a large variety of designs and affordability available in all over the Pakistan easily thesedays.

      Reply

  2. I love your blog! I really enjoy the questions at the end of them. To answer the question at the bottom of this post I believe that my community could improve its overall health by having better access to transportation like you touched on in your post. It can play a huge factor in allowing individuals to receive proper healthcare resources.

    Reply

  3. That is really nice to hear. thank you for the update and good luck.

    Reply

  4. Nice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Well this article that i’ve been waited for so long. I need this article to complete my assignment in the college, and it has same topic with your article. Thanks, great share. slot online

    Reply

  5. Thanks for a wonderful share. Your article has proved your hard work and experience you have got in this field. Brilliant .i love it reading. TKO Carts

    Reply

  6. This blog is so nice to me. I will keep on coming here again and again. Visit my link as well..
    ok

    Reply

  7. This blog is so nice to me. I will keep on cominngg here again and again. Visit my link as well..

    Reply

  8. I recently found many useful information in your website especially this blog page. Among the lots of comments on your articles. Thanks for sharing. TKO Carts

    Reply

  9. This is very educational content and written well for a change. It’s nice to see that some people still understand how to write a quality post.! tavor 7 For Sale

    Reply

  10. This is a smart blog. I mean it. You have so much knowledge about this issue, and so much passion. You also know how to make people rally behind it, obviously from the responses. tavor 7 For Sale

    Reply

  11. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well.. Tavor 7

    Reply

  12. Just admiring your work and wondering how you managed this blog so well. It’s so remarkable that I can’t afford to not go through this valuable information whenever I surf the internet! Tavor ts12 for sale

    Reply

  13. This is really a nice and informative, containing all information and also has a great impact on the new technology. Thanks for sharing it, 우리카지노

    Reply

  14. I like this post,And I guess that they having fun to read this post,they shall take a good site to make a information,thanks for sharing it to me. 샌즈카지노

    Reply

  15. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. Bebek Magnetleri

    Reply

  16. I recently found many useful information in your website especially this blog page. Among the lots of comments on your articles. Thanks for sharing. 우리카지노

    Reply

  17. I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. bengal cats for adoption

    Reply

  18. Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work. 우리카지노

    Reply

  19. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. Thanks… 카지노사이트

    Reply

  20. This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post. anuncios clasificados

    Reply

  21. This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post. BikeValy

    Reply

  22. Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! This is obviously one great post. Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here. Bike Price in BD

    Reply

  23. I haven’t any word to appreciate this post…..Really i am impressed from this post….the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. https://topthaibet.com/

    Reply

  24. I found your this post while searching for some related information on blog search…Its a good post..keep posting and update the information. Gems and Jewels

    Reply

Leave a Reply to THC Oil Cartidge for Sale Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *