The well-acknowledged fact that there exists a discrepancy with regard to health care, for minority Americans vis-a-vis the others, has been substantiated by a study conducted by Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois.

Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the study cites the reasons for the inferior health results of minority patients - of heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension - saying that the clinics for minorities are crammed as well as chaotic.

To compile their findings, the researchers undertook a comparative study of 27 clinics with at least 30 percent minority patients, and 69 clinics with less than 30 percent minority patients. While the former had 41.8 percent of physicians, the latter had 45.9 percent.

In clinics with more minority patients, there was a four times more possibility of a disorderly work environment, and the physicians working there had a tendency to avail more leave, due to less job satisfaction and higher stress levels.

The study also highlighted that clinics with higher number of minority patients faced greater problems in terms of referrals to specialists, medical supplies, and pharmacy services; as also less space for medical check ups.

Lead researcher, Dr. Anita Varkey, said that "time pressure, insufficient resources and patients with complex problems likely constitute a 'perfect storm' that contributes to the challenges that physicians face in providing quality care to large proportions of minority patients."