Posted on 208,521 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?

208,521 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health”

  1. This is a truly good site post. Not too many people would actually. the way you just did. I am really impressed that there is so much information about this subject that have been uncovered and you’ve done your best. with so much class. If wanted to know more about green smoke reviews. than by all means come in and check our stuff. Influencer

    Reply

  3. Waow this is quite pleasant article, my sister love to read such type of post, I am going to tell her and bookmarking this webpage. Thanks Influencer

    Reply

  20. I showed this to a lot of people The writing is so good that it’s a waste for me to see it, but everyone says the same thing. The writing is so beautiful. As expected, I was proud for no reason because I wasn’t the only one who thought so토토사이트

    Reply

  24. I showed this to a lot of people The writing is so good that it’s a waste for me to see it, but everyone says the same thing. The writing is so beautiful. As expected, I was proud for no reason because I wasn’t the only one who thought so토토사이트

    Reply

  28. GlobalRose offers a wide selection of wedding bouquet. From stunning roses to vibrant bouquets, discover our extensive collection of flowers, available for delivery worldwide. Shop now for the perfect floral arrangement at GlobalRose.com.

    Reply

  40. เราคือเว็บตรงจากคาสิโน มั่นใจได้ 100% ปลอดภัยด้วยการบริการที่รวดเร็วทันใจ พร้อมบริการตลอด 24 ชั่วโมง ลูกค้าสามารถเลือกเล่นได้หลากหลายเกมจุใจๆ ด้วย pg slot , joker slot , slotxo , pragmatic game, super slot อื่นๆอีกมากมายได้แล้ววันนี้ดาฟาเบท-คาสิโน

    Reply

  41. “Audiotorrent” is a term that refers to the practice of sharing and downloading audio content using peer-to-peer file sharing networks, specifically torrents.

    Reply

  42. My friend, you will probably become a great celebrity. I will always look forward to your writing. I wish you all the best주소

    Reply

  43. 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 diagnostic Boughton Monchelsea

    Reply

  48. Awesome article, it was exceptionally helpful! I simply began in this and I’m becoming more acquainted with it better! Cheers, keep doing awesome!
    suspension repair Maidstone

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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