Posted on 144,612 Comments on Important Determinants of Health

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?

144,612 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health”

  1. Building Industry Blog

    UK Construction Services is a new blog where we share news and innovations in the building and construction services environment. We are able to do this by working to understand the vision, goals, and culture of the industry, helping promote news stories and service providers to a wider audience.

    Reply

  12. After reading a few blog posts on your site, I really like your blogging style. I added it to my bookmarked site history and can check it out again soon. Please also check out my page and let me know what you think. gb whatsapp

    Reply

  13. Hi my good friend, MrX SEO, your website is very helpful, thank you for letting us on your awesome website
    Jingga88

    Reply

  14. Hi my good friend, MrX SEO, your website is very helpful, thank you for letting us on your awesome website
    Jingga88

    Reply

  16. Hi my good friend, MrX SEO, your website is very helpful, thank you for letting us on your awesome website
    Jingga88

    Reply

  17. Hi my good friend, MrX SEO, your website is very helpful, thank you for letting us on your awesome website
    Jingga88

    Reply

  18. Hi my good friend, MrX SEO, your website is very helpful, thank you for letting us on your awesome website
    Jingga88

    Reply

  19. Hi my good friend, MrX SEO, your website is very helpful, thank you for letting us on your awesome website
    Jingga88

    Reply

  27. Let me just add one more thing (I wrote a pretty long comment about it just after the game, but probably failed to publish it): the behaviour by Paulo Bento was absolutely unacceptable and downright disgraceful. Maybe it was possible, even better, to let KOR take that corner, but to attack the referee like Bento did is simply ridiculous, not to even mention the ridiculousness of a decision to blame your defeat on a single corner not taken. Is that the role model people want their kids to look up to? And if a coach behaves like this, is it unexpected when players do too? Taylor solved this incident perfectly and calmly (being a prison officer once probably helps him in this regard), but I certainly hope Bento will be sanctioned for this. central london escorts

    Reply

  28. Thanks for your post. I’ve been thinking about writing a very comparable post over the last couple of weeks, I’ll probably keep it short and sweet and link to this instead if thats cool. Thanks. Tuition fee

    Reply

  30. Great post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon every day. kshows

    Reply

  34. Like!! I blog quite often and I genuinely thank you for your information. The article has truly peaked my interest.

    Reply

  41. Kanye West clothing shop real collection Get UPTO 50 OFF on Hoodies and Shirts on official merch line store Shipping across the world
    Kanyewest Clothing

    Reply

  43. If you’re searching for the place to Buy Best Dried Fruit Online, look no further than Figtree. Our dried fruit selection is top-notch, with a variety of options that are perfect for snacking or adding to your favorite recipes. From sweet and chewy dates to tart and tangy apricots, we’ve got you covered. Give Figtree a try and taste the difference for yourself.

    Reply

  44. Great post! This post was exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you for the motivation and encouragement. Your writing is inspiring and empowering. Keep up the amazing work! Tata Signa 2823.K RMC STD 6S

    Reply

  45. Ethereum staking is the process of locking up some of your ETH tokens to help validate blocks and secure the Ethereum network.
    Eth 2.0 Staking

    Reply

  46. Great post! This post was exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you for the motivation and encouragement. Your writing is inspiring and empowering. Keep up the amazing work! Tata Signa 2823.K RMC STD 6S

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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