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Hematology, often coupled with the Oncology medical specialty, is the the branch of medicine that is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the blood. That is, the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases. Hematology includes the study of etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of blood diseases.
The doctors who work in hematology are known as hematologists. Their routine work may range from the management of the hematology laboratory, work at the microscope viewing blood films and bone marrow slides, interpretation of various hematological test results, care of in-patients and out-patients. Hematologists who work in laboratories are referred to as "hematopathologists", whereas specialists in the treatment of hematologic diseases are called "hematologist/oncologists".
Hematologists may specialise further or have special interests, for example:
- treating bleeding disorders such as hemophilia
- treating hematological malignacies such as lymphoma and leukemia (onco hematology)
- treating hemoglobinopathies
- the science of blood transfusion and the work of a blood bank
Blood diseases affect the production of blood and its components, such as blood cells, hemoglobin, blood proteins, and the mechanism of coagulation. In a clinical laboratory the hematology department performs numerous different tests on blood. The most commonly performed test is the complete blood count (CBC), also called full blood count (FBC), which includes; white blood cell count, platelet count, hemoglobin level and several parameters of red blood cells. A CBC helps the health professional check any symptoms, such as weakness, fatigue, or bruising. It also helps with the diagnosis of conditions, such as anemia, infection, and many other disorders. Blood coagulation is a sub-speciality of hematology; basic general coagulation tests are the prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT). Another common hematology test in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Medical Opinions Associates has Board-certified Hematologists who can provide the needed support for medical malpractice and other legal matters. One of our Hematology medical experts is an Attending Physician at the New York University Medical Center and a Clinical Instructor at the New York University School of Medicine. He has also done research in Pediatric Hematology. In addition, he is involved with the training of Blood Bank Directors for greater New York. Another Hematology medical expert is a consultant in medical Oncology and Hematology at several hospitals in Los Angeles. Others Hematology medical experts are in private practice in the combined Oncology/Hematology specialty.
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