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?

145,032 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health

  1. Very interesting blog. A lot of blogs I see these days don’t really provide anything that I’m interested in, but I’m most definitely interested in this one. Just thought that I would post and let you know 英國物業

    Reply

  2. 뉴토끼 offers a seamless reading experience with its customizable settings and user-friendly interface. It’s truly revolutionizing the way we engage with digital content.

    Reply

  3. Get ready for online freedom! Explore the internet without any rules. Say goodbye to online roadblocks and hello to unlimited browsing FreeVpnHaiti.com
    Your pass to endless online adventures is just a click away!

    Reply

  4. This is truly a decent and useful, containing all data furthermore greatly affects the new innovation. A debt of gratitude is in order for sharing it  物理補習班

    Reply

  5. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read something like this before. So nice to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for beginning this up. this web site is one thing that’s needed on the web, somebody with a bit of originality. helpful job for bringing one thing new to the internet! sbobet

    Reply

  6. مگاپاری Megapari یک وبسایت شرط بندی مدرن است که با حضور در این زمینه، تعداد زیادی از کاربران را به خود جلب کرده است و با ارائه واریز و برداشت های سریع و معتبر به مشتریان خود، شهرت یافته است.
    آدرس بدون فیلتر مگاپاری

    Reply

  7. we will talk about a trading software system called Altrix Edge and we hope this detailed review will help you invest in the online market and enjoy your profits. altrix edge

    Reply

  8. Amazing read! CALCULADORA ALICIA is changing the game in mathematical research. Explore its contribution here

    Reply

  9. healthcare seminars A career in healthcare is undeniably a balancing act, requiring professionals to navigate demanding schedules, emotional challenges, and the perpetual pursuit of excellence.

    Reply

  10. سایت بت فوروارد یکی از برترین مجموعه های سرگرمی آنلاین است که بیش از 30,000 بازی زنده را در هر ماه در بیش از 65 رشته از ورزش ها و ورزش های الکترونیک ارائه می دهد. علاوه بر این، این سایت امکان پیش بینی زنده و قبل از شروع مسابقات را نیز فراهم می کند.

    Reply

  11. Its an incredible joy perusing your post.Its brimming with data I am searching for and I want to post a remark that “The substance of your post is marvelous” Great work. 英國樓盤

    Reply

  12. I have read your all articles, its very informative for me. Thanks for sharing this information with us.
    Anyone want to Buy Yelp Reviewsthen visit my website

    Reply

  13. manggon168 Provides easy-to-use and cost-effective gameplay If you are interested in accessing this service @senygame, you can immediately apply for membership. Slots, no agents, no minimums. Slots, a direct website, not only offers authentic licensed slot games. But there are also games from some of the best developers. Provides excitement for playing on A 100% trustworthy direct slots website where you can enjoy a wide variety of slot games. The direct website guarantees a smooth, refreshing and enjoyable gameplay interface. The latest new slots website. Easy to use and interesting features together with direct website slots New heavy breaks today, ready to check out the world of online slots like never before inside the camp. Slots are easy to break.

    Reply

  14. I discovered your blog site site on the search engines and check several of your early posts. Always maintain up the very good operate. I recently additional increase Rss to my MSN News Reader. Looking for toward reading much more on your part later on!… 먹튀사이트

    Reply

  15. CaloVital ist eine Marke für kalorienreiche Shakes und Lebensmittel für Menschen, die tagsüber keine Zeit haben, Mahlzeiten zuzubereiten, die Probleme haben, an Gewicht zuzunehmen, hauptsächlich ältere Menschen, Menschen, die sich von Krebs oder anderen Krankheiten erholen, Mädchen mit Untergewicht oder Essstörungen, aber auch für Menschen, die ins Fitnessstudio gehen und ihren Körper aufbauen möchten und CaloVital-Produkte als Fitness-Massezuwachs nutzen möchten.
    Zunehmen bei Untergewicht

    Reply

  16. This involves leaving a comment on a blog post and including a link back to your website. If the link is a “dofollow” link, it means that search engines will follow the link and give your website credit for the backlink. Blog comment backlinks were once a popular and effective way to build backlinks for SEO purposes. dofollow blog comment

    Reply

  17. DEWALIVE DEWALIVE adalah Situs Online Terpercaya, Terbaik, Terlengkap dan Terbesar di Indonesia bahkan di Asia sekalipun.

    Reply

  18. Sbobet88: Agen Terbaik dengan Layanan Pelanggan Ramah dan Profesional.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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