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?

219,749 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health

  1. An unparalleled union of financial expertise, knowledge, strength & trust, we are persistent in our efforts to secure the financial future of our customers.
    home loan

    Reply

  2. Hi, my name is Baroncorrz and I am a customer support specialist with six years of experience. I help clients and provide help with epson printer recovery mode. Do you need help with the same issue or have a query or want to inquire about epson products, contact me anytime. I will be glad to help.

    Reply

  3. Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful and informative article with us. It is very knowledgeable and very useful. Here, Raunak Group presents Shanti Luxuria near Shilphata with beautifuly designed 1 2 3 4 5 BHK Shanti Luxuria Thane

    Reply

  4. I really impressed after read this because of some quality work and informative thoughts . I just wanna say thanks for the writer and wish you all the best for coming! Nice knowledge gaining article.
    vip life dombivli

    Reply

  5. I wanted to reach out and let you know how much I enjoyed your recent blog post. Your writing style is engaging and informative, and I appreciated the insights you shared on topic.
    Your post really resonated with me, and I found myself nodding along as I read through it. I especially appreciated your idea and the way you presented it.
    Thank you for taking the time to create such valuable content. Your blog is always a go-to resource for me, and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.
    mejor abogado de accidentes de motocicleta en el norte de virginia

    Reply

  6. Legend of Houyiสร้างจากนิทานจีนโบราณเกี่ยวกับนักธนูในตำนาน สล็อตpgเว็บตรง ผู้ซึ่งได้รับมอบหมายให้ยิงดวงอาทิตย์ทั้งเก้าดวงให้ตกเพื่อช่วยผู้คนจากความร้อนที่ไม่หยุดยั้ง เกมนี้จะพาคุณผ่านการผจญภัยที่น่าตื่นเต้นในขณะที่คุณสำรวจว่า

    Reply

  7. เว็บเดิมพันบาคาร่าออนไลน์ดีที่สุด BBIN ผู้ให้บริการเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์ ไลฟ์คาสิโน ยักษ์ใหญ่ เกมไพ่บาคาร่ายอดนิยม มาพร้อมโปรโมชั่นมากมาย สำหรับคอไพ่บาคาร่า ห้ามพลาดเป็นอันขาด สมัครเดิมพันบาคาร่า 24 ชั่วโมง bbin Baccarat บนมือถือ รองรับทั้ง iOS และ Android ฝากถอนด้วยระบบออโต้ รวดเร็ว ไม่ต้องรอนาน เว็บใหญ่ความปลอดภัยสูง

    Reply

  8. Delhi Escorts, Clients are welcome to contact us should they need additional assistance and our customer service representatives will be happy to help.

    Reply

  9. Nice post. I learn some thing tougher on distinct blogs everyday. Most commonly it is stimulating to learn to read content from other writers and exercise a specific thing there. I’d would rather use some together with the content in my weblog no matter whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a link in your web weblog. Many thanks for sharing. Digital Marketing Strategies

    Reply

  10. Best collection of Tamildhool and Tamil Serials HD. You can watch Vijay Tv, Sun Tv & Zee Tamil all Tv Shows watch online free on TamilDhool. Please visit our webiste Tamildhool

    Reply

  11. You delivered such an impressive piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain information. Thanks for sharing such information with us due to which my several concepts have been cleared. realtor in Charlottesville VA

    Reply

  12. I have seen some great stuff here. Worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a great informative website. Your work is truly appreciated around the clock and the globe. top Charlottesville realtors

    Reply

  13. Excellent post. I was always checking this blog, and I’m impressed! Extremely useful info specially the last part, I care for such information a lot. I was exploring this particular info for a long time. Thanks to this blog my exploration has ended. Charlottesville realtors

    Reply

  14. Your article has proven useful to me. It’s very informative and you are obviously very knowledgeable in this area. You have opened my eyes to varying views on this topic with interesting and solid content. APK LP

    Reply

  15. Best collection of Tamildhool and Tamil Serials HD. You can watch Vijay Tv, Sun Tv & Zee Tamil all Tv Shows watch online free on TamilDhool. Please visit our webiste Tamildhool

    Reply

  16. Cool collection of Tamildhool Serial and TV shows at Tamildhoolserials. You can watch, download and Share all Tamil Programmes for free on Tamildhool

    Reply

  17. Watch all Tamil Serials, Tamil Shows and Programs Online on Tamildhool. Cool Collection of Tamil Serials and Tamil Shows. Please visit our webiste Tamildhool

    Reply

  18. A very excellent blog post. I am thankful for your blog post. I have found a lot of approaches after visiting your post. Barong123

    Reply

  19. Nice blog, if you are video lover and want to download videos from different playforms like youtube, facebook and other then videobuddy apk can help you in such. Download videobuddy mod apk from moddedstore, a secured and trusted website for mod apk.

    Reply

  20. When choosing a company to haul away your old car, it’s also important to make sure they have the right certifications scrap cars and licences. Look for companies that are licenced by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and have qualifications from groups like the Automotive Recyclers of Canada.

    Reply

  21. I thoroughly enjoyed your blog post and found it to be very informative. I appreciate the effort you put into creating it.
    I’m eagerly looking forward to your future blog posts and can’t wait to see what topics you’ll be covering next.
    It would be wonderful to see a blog post dedicated to Hempworx CBD oil.
    As it’s becoming increasingly popular, I believe your readers would benefit greatly from learning more about it.

    Reply

  22. 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.
    Hamilton Wedding DJ

    Reply

  23. i must say and thanks for the information.I appreciate your post and look forward to more.
    vip123

    Reply

  24. Deneme bonusu veren siteler kullanıcılarına birçok avantajı aynı anda sağlamaktadır. Deneme bonusu, yeni kullanıcıları cezbetmek ve siteye üye olmalarını teşvik etmek amacıyla sunulan bir promosyondur. Bazı online bahis siteleri ve casinolar, yeni kullanıcılara üye oldukları anda belirli bir miktar deneme bonusu vermektedirler. Bu bonuslar genellikle site içerisindeki oyunları veya bahisleri deneme imkanı sunar. deneme bonusu

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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