Posted on 190,240 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?

190,240 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health”

  20. Instant connection requires a minimum deposit and we recommend that you stick to the minimum deposit. You can always invertir later, or when you start generating your first profits. tesler trading

    Reply

  22. A wisdom teeth specialist is a dental professional who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of wisdom teeth-related issues. Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last set of teeth to emerge in the mouth.

    Reply

  30. Hi, I just found your website via Bing. Your article is truly applicable to my life right now, and I’m really delighted I found your website. coin gpt

    Reply

  31. Hey there. Thank you so much for sharing this information. It is quite interesting and wonderful. here is an offer for you, Dosti One Mumbai is a new launch 1 & 2 BHK project near Thane at Kalher. For more information, you can contact us on Dosti One Mumbai

    Reply

  32. It was wondering if I could use this write-up on my other website, I will link it back to your website though.Great Thanks. tree service

    Reply

  34. This article highlights the disparities in healthcare access during the pandemic, underscoring the challenges faced by the uninsured, those lacking transportation, and individuals requiring mental health support in the Albany area.
    day outing resorts in Bangalore

    Reply

  37. Great job for publishing such a beneficial web site. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too. login api88

    Reply

  46. Explore the world of automobiles! Contribute your expertise with our ‘automotive write for us‘ opportunities. Share your passion for cars and driving with our community. Join us today!

    Reply

  48. This is my first time visit here. From the tons of comments on your articles,I guess I am not only one having all the enjoyment right here! login api88

    Reply

  49. As computerized areas of interest like Texas keep on cultivating advancement and drawing in top ability, the fate of versatile application improvement created by the best mobile app development company in Houston is splendid, introducing another time of comfort and productivity for clients all through the world.

    The future trends of app development assumed by the top Android iOS mobile app development services company in Texas

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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