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?

168,176 thoughts on “Important Determinants of Health

  1. I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head Feel free to visit my website; 바카라사이트

    Reply

  2. you’re so cool! I don’t think i’ve sincerely study thru something like that before. So notable to find a person with a few true thoughts in this topic. Significantly.. Many thank you for beginning this up. This website is one aspect this is wished at the internet, someone with a little originality! Excellent day! I absolutely wish to offer you a large thumbs up in your tremendous records you’ve got right here on this put up. I’ll be returning to your net web site for greater soon. An thrilling discussion is in reality worth remark. I assume that you should post more approximately this problem count number, it might not be a taboo count number however commonly human beings do no longer talk about these subjects. To the following! First-class desires!! 먹튀

    Reply

  3. I know that you explain it very well. And I hope that other readers will also experience how I feel after reading your article. 먹튀검증

    Reply

  4. You’re the best, It’s posts like this that keep me coming back and checking this weblog regularly, thanks for the info!
    tesler 2

    Reply

  5. A great content material as well as great layout. Your website deserves all of the positive feedback it’s been getting. I will be back soon for further quality contents. SEO

    Reply

  6. vidalista 60hould not be taken more than once per day. However, it can be changed at any time based on certain factors such as other diseases. Consult your doctor before making such a change, as there may be some side effects from long-term use of such pills.

    Reply

  7. vidalista 20is the smallest dose of Tadalafil that can be used to treat erections. These pills contain a precise dose of 2.5 mg of generic Tadalafil.

    Reply

  8. vidalista is the smallest dose of Tadalafil that can be used to treat erections. These pills contain a precise dose of 2.5 mg of generic Tadalafil.

    Reply

  9. tadalista is manufactured by Fortune Healthcare, an Indian pharmaceutical conglomerate. The product is in such high demand that it is exported twice as much as it is used for domestic purposes.

    Reply

  10. vidalista 20mg is the smallest dose of Tadalafil that can be used to treat erections. These pills contain a precise dose of 2.5 mg of generic Tadalafil.

    Reply

  11. Great blog here! Also your site quite a bit up fast!.Absolutely awesome Article.l I could see how each stage works and its actually very straight forward. we are best whole house water filter and
    All in all a great.

    Reply

  12. vidalista 60mg should not be taken more than once per day. However, it can be changed at any time based on certain factors such as other diseases. Consult your doctor before making such a change, as there may be some side effects from long-term use of such pills.

    Reply

  13. vidalista 10a medicine containing the generic ingredient Tadalafil, can provide a temporary cure for your erections. It is common to use the pills to treat ED and impotence.

    Reply

  14. fildena 50s a drug that is well-known around the world for its use in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Fildena 50 has the ability to cure the patient no matter how bad the situation is.

    Reply

  15. You will discover a ton of methodologies subsequent to visiting your post. I was actually scanning for. A debt of gratitude is in order for such post and please keep it up. Incredible work. 출장안마

    Reply

  16. This a decent method to welcome the instructor as they put their endeavors to prepare understudies. UK exposition Writers acknowledges the educators. 출장마사지

    Reply

  17. A debt of gratitude is in order for setting aside the effort to talk about this, I feel unequivocally about it and love adapting more on this theme. On the off chance that conceivable, as you gain ability, OK mind refreshing your blog with more data? It is amazingly useful for me. 출장안마

    Reply

  18. The subsequent time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I know it was my option to read, however I really thought youd have something attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you possibly can repair when you werent too busy on the lookout for attention. Info Redar

    Reply

  19. bookmarking and returning frequently!it individuals preparing it truly is someone else’s eminent organization, you will never in the realm of the 55 and different sumptuousness marks supra to reveal which.. 출장안마

    Reply

  20. most of anything you say is astonishingly legitimate and it makes me ponder the reason why i hadn’t looked at this with this light before. This particular piece surely did flip the light on for me in my view as far as this difficulty is going. Though there is clearly one aspect i’m not too comfortable with so at the same time as i take some time to reconcile that with the middle theme of your function, permit me observe simply what all of the rest of the readers have to say. Well done. I’m simply digging the template/theme of this weblog. It’s easy, yet effective. A variety of instances it’s very tough to get that “best balance” between usability and look. I should say which you’ve achieved a amazing task with this. Additionally, the weblog loads very fast for me on chrome. Outstanding weblog ! Amazing work ! That is the form of facts which might be speculated to be shared throughout the net. 토토

    Reply

  21. ศูนย์รวมเกมครบทุกค่ายชั้นนำ ไม่ต้องสมัครเล่นได้เลย เครดิตฟรี เหมาะสำหรับผู้เล่นใหม่ ที่ต้องการทดลองเล่น เกมสล็อตที่มีความหลากหลาย ตอบสนองความต้องการของผู้เล่นทุกเพศทุกวัย หากสมัครสมาชิกกับเราคุณสามารถเลือกรับเครดิตได้เลย รับเงินคืนสูงสุด 100%

    Reply

  22. Download the latest MOD APK files for your Android device. You will easily modify your games and apps with unlimited money, coins, or unlocked levels. HEYHEY.NET

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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