Hematology

Hematology is the branch of medicine that is concerned with biology (physiology), pathology, clinical laboratory, internal medicine, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases. Hematology includes the study of the cause, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of blood diseases.

Physicians specialized in blood disorders are known as hematologists. They specialize in:

  • Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia (a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting), Von Willebrands disease, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (the condition of having a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) of no known cause (idiopathic)

  • Abnormalities of blood counts or blood cell function

  • Treating blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia

  • Treating disorders of hemoglobin such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia

  • In the science of blood transfusion and collaboration with blood bank pathologists

Physicians specializing in hematology are board certified as a demonstration of their advanced study and knowledge in treating blood related conditions.