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?

162,397 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health

  1. Luxurious Villa Rentals in Goa: Discover the epitome of comfort and style with our range of luxurious villas available for rent in Goa. Each villa offers exquisite interiors, private pools, and breathtaking views, perfect for a serene getaway. Rent Villa in Goa

    Reply

  2. Online slot games are games that offer the perfect combination of excitement, entertainment and great opportunities to win big prizes. With a variety of interesting themes, stunning graphics and evocative sound effects, every spin on the online slot machine will be an unforgettable adventure. In this exciting online slot game, you will find various unique and entertaining symbols. From fresh fruits to amazing characters and themes, each symbol has a specific meaning and value. Combine these symbols correctly and you will get big wins. For further information, you can visit our website https://samweb.me/

    Reply

  3. Switching to the women’s singles camp, the main champion of the Red-White will rely on Gregoria Mariska Tunjung. From other sectors, Fajar Alfian/Rian Ardianto are the mainstay and are the only representatives of Indonesia in the men’s doubles camp.The defending champion, Apriyani Rahayu, will return to action on the Olympic stage with her new partner who will compete J JADWAL MAROKO OLIMPIADE 2024

    Reply

  4. A very exciting online betting game is now here, which will bring abundant wealth that you have not yet tasted. This online betting game will take you into the very exciting world of betting, where there are lots of accurate numbers and also modern features such as live dealers. If you really want to know about this online betting game, you can click this link https://wakatobi168.com/

    Reply

  5. LOOKAH’s dab rigs are a beacon of artistic innovation, presenting a collection of glass designs that gracefully transition from the petite to the grand.

    Reply

  6. With artistic innovation driving its vision, LOOKAH’s dab rigs offer a spectrum of glass art, spanning the intricately small to the boldly large.

    Reply

  7. LOOKAH’s commitment to artistic innovation is evident in its dab rigs collection, featuring a range of glass designs that include both the delicately crafted and the dramatically scaled.

    Reply

  8. Enter the realm of LOOKAH’s innovative glass bongs and start your personalized exploration to find a piece that resonates with your style. Our bongs’ unique appeal is redefining industry standards.

    Reply

  9. Step into the exclusive world of LOOKAH’s glass bongs, where a personalized journey awaits you. Discover the unique appeal of our bongs that are carving out a new direction in the market.

    Reply

  10. Immerse yourself in the innovative universe of LOOKAH’s glass bongs and embark on a quest to find your perfect match. Our bongs’ distinctiveness is setting trends and revolutionizing the industry.

    Reply

  11. LOOKAH’s water pipes collection is a celebration of originality, offering a vast array of glass art that ranges from refined intricacies to grand elaborations.

    Reply

  12. Your article has left a lasting impression on me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from your work. aquax bet

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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