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?

208,800 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health

  1. I just couldn’t leave your website before telling you that I truly enjoyed the top quality info you present to your visitors? Will be back again frequently to check up on new posts. SEO Freelancer Dubai

    Reply

  2. First You got a great blog .I will be interested in more similar topics. i see you got really very useful topics, i will be always checking your blog thanks.
    tretinoin cream

    Reply

  3. All the contents you mentioned in post is too good and can be very useful. I will keep it in mind, thanks for sharing the information keep updating, looking forward for more posts.Thanks Diyarbakır Escort

    Reply

  4. You’ve got some interesting points in this article. I would have never considered any of these if I didn’t come across this. Thanks!.

    zavierkonstruksi

    Reply

  5. You’ve got some interesting points in this article. I would have never considered any of these if I didn’t come across this. Thanks!.

    Visit

    Reply

  6. I have to look for goals with essential information on given point and offer them to instructor our inclination and the article. Rundpool

    Reply

  7. Upon careful examination of the blog, we are genuinely captivated by its content. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the author for their invaluable contribution, which represents Heights Emergency Room. As a state-of-the-art medical facility, Height’s Emergency Room is dedicated to providing immediate and specialized care during critical moments. Supported by cutting-edge technology and a team of skilled medical experts, our emergency room ensures prompt attention and tailored heights emergency room treatment for a wide spectrum of medical emergencies. Whether dealing with minor injuries or life-threatening situations, Height’s Emergency Room remains steadfast in delivering swift and comprehensive medical assistance, always prioritizing the well-being and recovery of every patient.

    Reply

  8. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. cat down’s syndrome

    Reply

  9. I have added and shared your site to my social media accounts to send people back to your site because I am sure they will find it extremely helpful too.
    consulting in dubai

    Reply

  10. I absolutely loved reading your blog post! The content was insightful, engaging, and very well-written. Thank you for sharing such valuable information, and I look forward to reading more of your fantastic work!
    Arlington Traffic Lawyer

    Reply

  11. ZEUSQQ adalah situs zeus slot gacor hari ini sering maxwin mudah menang sebagai raja dewa slot qq gampang jp game terbaru di agen judi online terpercaya terbaik 2023 slot gacor

    Reply

  12. Fabulous post, you have denoted out some fantastic points, I likewise think this s a very wonderful website. I will visit again for more quality contents and also, recommend this site to all. Thanks. Click And Buy Guest Post service

    Reply

  13. สำหรับสายดื่มเบียร์สดหรือสายสะสมจำเป็นต้องรู้จัก เบียร์สดครั้งฟ แบรนด์ วาฬ กัน คราฟเบียร์ บ้างอยู่แล้วนิดหนึ่ง Whale จัดได้ว่าเป็นเบียร์สดเกรดพรีเมี่ยมที่ราคาสูงไม่แพง แถมยังมีใส่ภรรณ์ที่สวยงาม เรียบหรู เหมาะสมกับสายเก็บสะสมอีกด้วย

    Reply

  14. Having carefully perused the blog, we discover its content to be exceptionally captivating. We would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude to the author for their priceless input, acting as ambassadors for the realm of Construction Safety Training. The blog deeply explores the importance of safety training within construction, underscoring its <a href="safety training in construction function in equipping workers and experts with vital expertise to forestall accidents, injuries, and conceivable dangers at construction sites.

    Reply

  15. Boa leitura, acabei de passar isso para um amigo que estava fazendo uma pesquisa sobre isso. E ele acabou de me pagar o almoço, pois eu o encontrei para ele smile. Portanto, deixe-me reformular:

    https://www.sportstotozone.com/
    Obrigado pelo almoço!

    Reply

  16. Seen the whole article content material. There are a bit bit of truly informative info here. Many thank you. “Brilliance is typically the act of an person, but great stupidity can generally be traced to an business enterprise.” by way of Jon Bentley.. property services

    Reply

  17. This web web page is usually a walk-via you find out the information it perfect you regarding this and didn’t recognize who to ask. Glimpse right here, and you’ll truely discover it. 1gom.com

    Reply

  18. 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. Car servicing Maidstone

    Reply

  19. A portable fish finder has other benefits too. They are light-weight and simple to use. Plus they let you use a fish finder in eventualities where you will not be able to employ a fixed one. 傢俬設計

    Reply

  20. Everyone pointed out to you that it’s not true, but it’s amazing that you really didn’t change your beliefs and walked your way and created a beautiful work like this메이저사이트

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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