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?

207,528 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health

  1. “This article sheds light on healthcare access inequalities amid the pandemic, emphasizing the struggles of the uninsured, transportation-limited, and individuals seeking mental health aid in the Albany region.”
    wellness resorts in bangalore ,

    Reply

  2. This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is very nice one and gives indepth information. Thanks for this nice article. login api88

    Reply

  3. Do you want Case study Help? Don’t worry; aissgnmenthelpaus.com is here to solve your problem. our expectations are highly qualified and well-trained for different subjects. Our teams are compliant with your assignment before the deadline. We are always available for all students. Please get in touch with us for more details. Visit now https://assignmenthelpaus.com/case-study-help/

    Reply

  4. Thanks for sharing nice information with us. i like your post and all you share with us is uptodate and quite informative, i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job. reiki healing toronto

    Reply

  5. There is so much in this article that I would never have thought of on my own. Your content gives readers things to think about in an interesting way. Thank you for your clear information. küche folieren

    Reply

  6. “This article highlights disparities in healthcare access during the pandemic, focusing on challenges faced by the uninsured, those with transportation limitations, and individuals seeking mental health support in the Albany region.”
    resorts in Mudigere

    Reply

  7. Qingdao Focal Solutions is a leading Building and Construction Materials Company based in Saudi Arabia, with multiple years of experience worldwide. We specialize in providing innovative and sustainable building solutions to meet the needs of our clients across various sectors, including commercial, residential, industrial, and institutional.

    https://q-fsi.com/

    Reply

  8. A Special thanks to the writer for posting this information. Here is an offer for you, Dosti Greater Thane at Kalher offers 1 2 3 BHK at new phase. Contact us
    Dosti Greater

    Reply

  9. สล็อตเว็บใหญ่Hey, these days is an excessive amount of fantastic for me, considering that this time I am looking at this tremendous instructional write-up in this article at my residence. Many thanks a great deal for huge energy

    Reply

  10. What an amazing blog post I really like your content writing, Thanks for providing us this amazing article and I hope you continue to share.
    hotmail

    Reply

  11. “The article sheds light on healthcare access inequalities amid the pandemic, spotlighting issues encountered by the uninsured, individuals with transportation constraints, and those seeking mental health assistance in the Albany area.”
    Wellness Resort in Goa

    Reply

  12. Very informative post! There is a lot of information here that can help any business get started with a successful social networking campaign. 123movies

    Reply

  13. Hey what a brilliant post I have come across and believe me I have been searching out for this similar kind of post for past a week and hardly came across this. Thank you very much and will look for more postings from you. Kitchen Appliance Answer

    Reply

  14. In today’s fast-paced world, where efficiency and reliability are paramount, the postal service plays a vital role in connecting people and delivering important documents and packages.

    VISIT MY SITE = Post Office UK Survey

    Reply

  15. Hosting a blog composing facility (in a broad sense) requires unlimited space. So I suggest you to discover such web hosting (internet space provider) that provide flexibility inside your internet space. SCIENTEXH

    Reply

  16. How Do I Recover My Money From Trust Wallet, first ensure you have your backup phrase safely stored. Download Trust Wallet again, select “Import Wallet,” input your backup phrase, set a new PIN, and your funds should be restored. If issues persist, contact Trust Wallet’s support for assistance. Always prioritize keeping your backup phrase secure.

    Reply

  17. Understanding the crucial determinants of health is vital for overall well-being. Explore more insights at sparkdentalmarketing.com to ensure your oral health is also given the attention it deserves.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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