Posted on 203,074 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?

203,074 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health”

  1. 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. bandar judi

    Reply

  2. Very informative post! There is a lot of information here that can help any business get started with a successful social networking campaign. bandar judi

    Reply

  3. I am fascinated this informative article. There are so many things mentioned here I had never thought of before. You have made me realize there is more than one way to think about these things. LEANBIOME

    Reply

  5. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.

    Reply

  6. What a fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post. I am grateful to you and expect more number of posts like these. Thank you very much. togel online

    Reply

  7. Private vans are a versatile and practical transportation option that caters to the needs of larger groups or families. These spacious vehicles offer ample seating capacity, allowing multiple passengers to travel together comfortably.

    Reply

  10. Its a great pleasure reading your post.Its full of information I am looking for and I love to post a comment that “The content of your post is awesome” Great work. nowewyrazy uw edu

    Reply

  11. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.
    Car Servicing Farnham

    Reply

  12. Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched everywhere and simply couldn’t come across. What a great web-site. casinostars

    Reply

  13. What a fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post. I am grateful to you and expect more number of posts like these. Thank you very much. slot online

    Reply

  15. After study several of the web sites for your web site now, i truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will also be checking back soon. Pls check out my website also and figure out if you agree. link gacor

    Reply

  16. After study several of the web sites for your web site now, i truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will also be checking back soon. Pls check out my website also and figure out if you agree. link gacor

    Reply

  17. After study several of the web sites for your web site now, i truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will also be checking back soon. Pls check out my website also and figure out if you agree. link gacor

    Reply

  21. unsecured business line of credit

    Here at Aspen Commercial Lending, we take helping your business grow seriously. That’s why we offer a range of commercial finance products designed to assist businesses of all sizes and across many industries.

    Reply

  28. When you buy VCC you can enjoy the benefits of making online purchases without using your personal credit or debit card. This can provide added security, as your personal information is not shared with the seller. Additionally, VCCs are often accepted by a wide range of online merchants, making them a convenient option for online shopping.

    Reply

  35. I saw your writing once, but I’m spending my day looking at your writing every day well. If I had known your writing before, I would have seen it sooner. Thank you. I’m looking at it well레플리카사이트

    Reply

  36. This is an awesome motivating article. I am practically satisfied with your great work. You put truly extremely accommodating data. Keep it up.

    지울프-토토

    Reply

  40. What do you think of Russia? I don’t like it very much I hope Japan sinks soon I’ll just ask once and then I’ll come back to talk hahahaha레플리카시계 and I felt responsible for receiving this warm energy and sharing it with many people

    Reply

  42. Pikashow is a cutting-edge streaming platform that offers a wide range of entertainment content. It allows users to access their favorite movies, TV shows, web series, and live events seamlessly. With a user-friendly interface and a vast library of content, Pikashow has quickly become a go-to platform for entertainment enthusiasts worldwide.
    Pikashow

    Reply

  46. Win the game!Don’t think too much about what doesn’t matter!

    Reply

  48. 카지노
    I am glad that it turned out so well and I hope it will continue in the future because it is so worthwhile and meaningful to the community.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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