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?

219,135 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health

  1. Your post is very helpful to get some effective tips to reduce weight properly. You have shared various nice photos of the same. I would like to thank you for sharing these tips. Surely I will try this at home. Keep updating more simple tips like this.  forexcryptoltd

    Reply

  2. independent escorts in Bangalore who have extremely talented and gorgeous female Amigo for you.
    They are just perfect from each dimension and can give perfect satisfaction.

    Reply

  3. Excellent article. Your writings are unique, simple to grasp, and include beneficial and motivating content. Continue your wonderful effort! From: rideaux cuisine

    Reply

  4. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the average U.S. home price grew a staggering 80% from 2012 to 2022. For many homeowners who opted to sell during the past decade, the market growth provided remarkable equity. Marina View Residences

    Reply

  5. I really love this post I will visit again to read your post in a very short time and I hope you will make more posts like this.  MSNBC Live

    Reply

  6. This article is an engaging abundance of enlightening information that is intriguing and elegantly composed. I praise your diligent work on this and thank you for this data. You have what it takes to get consideration.  MSNBC Live

    Reply

  7. I’m highly impressed by the quality and diversity of content presented on this website. It has been instrumental in enhancing my knowledge. Gasing77Slot

    Reply

  8. 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.  MSNBC Live

    Reply

  9. Thanks for sharing such an informative article. Looking forward to more of your works!

    Reply

  10. Nice blog I must say,if you are looking for best Cryptocurrency Mining platform. I’ve been exploring various cloud mining platforms for Bitcoin, and I must say that Kafka Mining truly stands out. Their commitment to transparency, security, and efficiency is evident in the way they operate. The user-friendly interface makes it easy for beginners like me to get started, while their advanced features cater to experienced miners as well. The fact that Kafka Mining regularly updates their hardware to ensure optimal mining power is impressive and reassuring. I appreciate how they provide detailed information about their mining farms and maintenance processes, instilling a sense of trust. Overall, my experience with Kafka Mining has been fantastic, and I’m excited to see my earnings grow while benefiting from their top-notch services.

    Reply

  11. An intriguing discussion is providing selling price comment. I feel it is best to jot down down surplus on this subject, it obtained’t be known as a taboo subject matter acquiring reported that often Grownup men and ladies aren’t enough to talk on A lot of these subjects. To a unique. CheersIPRO191

    Reply

  12. I am so happy to read this. your site with effective and useful information. It is included very nice post with a lot of our resources.thanks for share.
    schools in pitampura

    Reply

  13. the depth of each module can vary based on the course, and some modules may be combined or expanded upon. It’s always a good idea to review the specific course details for the most accurate information.

    React course in Hyderabad

    Reply

  14. سایت شرط بندی 313 بت که متعلق به پوریا پوتک است در کنار فراهم ساختن شرط بندی ورزشی و کازینویی امکان واریز وجه به صورت ریالی را نیز دارا می باشد. شما هم می توانید با ثبت نام در این سایت از امکانات آن بهره مند شوید.
    ثبت نام 313bet

    Reply

  15. เว็บคาสิโนออนไลน์อันดับ1 รวมเกมพนันออนไลน์ที่เยอะที่สุดในประเทศ BETFLIK สมัครฟรี ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ

    Reply

  16. I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before. UFABETแทงบอลมือถือยอดนิยม

    Reply

  17. Elevate your skills and knowledge with our industry-leading courses. Visit our website for a transformative learning experience. Your journey to mastery begins here
    GST Course in Hyderabad

    Reply

  18. You have a real ability for writing unique content.I like how you think and the way you represent your views in this article.I agree with your way of thinking.Thank you for sharing. video ngentot

    Reply

  19. Hello I am so delighted I located your blog, I really located you by mistake, while I was watching on google for something else, Anyways I am here now and could just like to say thank for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining website. Please do keep up the great work. film izle

    Reply

  20. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. plug play

    Reply

  21. Elevate your skills and knowledge with our industry-leading courses. Visit our website for a transformative learning experience. Your journey to mastery begins here
    GST Course in Hyderabad

    Reply

  22. Game Point Blank, sebagai salah satu game populer di kalangan pemain daring, memberikan pengalaman bermain yang intens dan kompetitif. Sayangnya, dalam dunia ngobrol games

    Reply

  23. Explore top-quality delta 8 dabs and concentrates at unbeatable prices on Buzz Bar Smoke Shop. Elevate your experience with premium selections.

    Reply

  24. Elevate your skills and knowledge with our industry-leading courses. Visit our website for a transformative learning experience. Your journey to mastery begins here
    GST Course in Hyderabad

    Reply

    1. There are a handful of fascinating points with time in this article but I don’t know if these people center to heart. There’s some validity but I’ll take hold opinion until I investigate it further. Very good write-up , thanks and now we want much more! Included in FeedBurner also jun88

      Reply

Leave a Reply

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