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?

218,512 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health

  1. After thoroughly immersing ourselves in the blog, we find its content to be truly captivating. We would like to convey our gratitude to the author for their valuable insights, representing BMW Key Replacement Houston. “BMW key made” entails the meticulous process of crafting a key fob repairs near me replacement or duplicate key designed exclusively for a BMW vehicle. This essential service is provided by automotive locksmiths or authorized BMW dealerships. The procedure entails the creation of a new key that precisely matches the vehicle’s distinctive specifications, followed by programming it to seamlessly integrate with the car’s immobilizer system.

    Reply

  2. Thank you so much for such a well-written article. It’s full of insightful information. Your point of view is the best among many without fail.For certain, It is one of the best blogs in my opinion. utility pole testing

    Reply

  3. 훌륭하게 작성된 기사, 모든 블로거가 동일한 콘텐츠를 제공한다면 인터넷이 훨씬 더 나은 곳이 될 것입니다 .. mlb중계

    Reply

  4. This particular is usually apparently essential and moreover outstanding truth along with for sure fair-minded and moreover admittedly useful My business is looking to find in advance designed for this specific useful stuffs… nondestructive testing (NDT)

    Reply

  5. Wow, this is such an informative and engaging article! I really appreciate the depth of research and the clear explanations provided. It’s evident that the author is well-versed in the subject matter, and their passion for it shines through. I’ve learned a lot from reading this, and I can’t wait to share it with my friends and colleagues. Keep up the fantastic work! Turske Serije Tv

    Reply

  6. The AMS 35 Snack & Food Combo vending machine has the ability to vend both snacks and cold items from the same vending machine. The AMS 35 Snack & Food Combo is ideal for small to medium vending locations or large vending accounts with satellite locations. This combo vending machine comes with two chip shelves for bagged items. Two candy shelves for candy and crackers. Finally two food shelves for cold sandwiches and cold breakfast items. A&M Equipment Sales is the factory distributor of AMS vending machines. With the years of experience both selling and refurbishing AMS vending machines, you can be confident that you are buying quality vending equipment from A&M Equipment Sales. Please visit ams vending machines for sale for more information.

    Reply

  7. 오랫동안 나와 내 친구는 유익한 블로그를 찾고 있었지만 지금은 올바른 위치에 있습니다. 당신은 내 마음에 방을 만들었습니다! 카지노총판

    Reply

  8. We are capable to endorse normally good quality and perhaps the leader things, hereafter detect the idea: acim

    Reply

  9. Such a very useful article. Very interesting to read this article.I would like to thank you for the efforts you had made for writing this awesome article. mlb중계

    Reply

  10. Nerdle is a number problem solving game that challenges players to think strategically and solve math puzzles to progress through levels.but have remained popular due to their simple yet addictive gameplay and nostalgic appeal.

    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 mlb중계

    Reply

  12. This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post. Saxenda per dimagrire

    Reply

  13. I love your blog site.. great colorings & style. Did a person style and design this fabulous website you as well as have you actually hire an attorney to make it work to suit your needs? Plz respond as I!|m looking to layout my own, personal weblog in addition to would wish to understand in which ough bought the following via. appreciate it Buy Saxenda online in Europe

    Reply

  14. But yet, regardless how good you will be accompanied by treating a huge rig, sometime currently, there are a situation in places ought to do selected information treating; and furthermore primarily based on your real age yet fitness level, free weight in your caravan it is a fantastically excessive do exercises. pre owned awnings commercial surface cleaner for pressure washer

    Reply

  15. I am glad to read this post, it’s an impressive one. I am always searching for quality posts and articles and this is what I found here, I hope you will be adding more in future. Kaiber ai

    Reply

  16. Tether belongs to a new breed of cryptocurrencies called stablecoins which aim to keep cryptocurrency valuations stable. Introduced in October 2014, it is a blockchain-based cryptocurrency backed by an equivalent amount of traditional fiat currencies. what is usdt payment

    Reply

  17. Just want to mention your article is as sudden. The clarity for your publish is simply first rate and that i could think you’re knowledgeable in this situation. Well together with your permission let me to clutch your RSS feed to keep updated with drawing near put up. Thank you one million and please keep the enjoyable paintings. care dental

    Reply

  18. Twitter had a tweet on bulk t-shirts, and lead me here. There are a variety of approaches you can cross if you need to make custom T-shirts. There’s virtual printers, plot cutters, and even custom transfers, however screen printing is the high-quality way to supply a number of T-shirts at a very low cost according to unit. สมัครเว็บแทงบอล

    Reply

  19. Hello there, I found your internet site thru Google whilst attempting to find a associated topic, your internet site got here up, it seems properly. I actually have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks. FHP Dentistry

    Reply

  20. Hello there! Is this All proper if I ask anything kinda off subject matter? I am trying to see this net web page on my new ipad however it will not display up right, do you have any remedies? Do i have were given to have an update for my application or some thing? Thanks in advance! dental school clinic

    Reply

  21. There some interesting factors quickly enough in this page however I don’t determine if I see all of them center to coronary heart. You can find a few validity but I am going to take keep opinion until I look into it further. Very appropriate write-up , thanks consequently we need a long way more! Added onto FeedBurner too dental implants

    Reply

  22. One present why galore businesses opt for postcards is because they are overmuch cheaper to be prefab and this can forbear a lot of expenses on the lengthened run.  assurance flotte

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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