Understanding Clinical Pathology

The field of medicine is a field that has so many specialized areas. A cardiologist is an expert for patients with heart problems. A dermatologist is the doctor for people with skin problems. No matter what a doctor specializes in, he always would go to another expert for assistance in his diagnoses. The pathologist is an important doctor for all other doctors. His pathology services are critical in detecting a disease in a patient so that the attending physician can treat it properly and effectively. Medical doctors need pathology services that are mostly done in the laboratories. Hospitals have their own laboratories but there are stand-alone laboratories as well that provide a wide range of these services. The aim of these providers is to provide comprehensive services that could help in the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of various human diseases. Many experienced pathologists have set up their own labs and offer analytical services where pathology is concerned. They do research, development, and training too. Some of the common pathology services include:   o Hematology   o Microbiology    o Histology    o Cytology    o Biochemistry    o Immunology    o Blood bank    o Bone marrow examination    o Hematopathology    o Surgical pathology    o Immunohistochemistry    o Clinical consultations    o Oncological Tests    o Laboratory administration    o Second opinion consultations    o Cancer diagnoses   There is a longer list of pathology services that are offered and these may be available in the hospitals as well as in the independent service providers. Specific services are needed for more specialized conditions. The pathologist's role in a patient's life is critical although the patient may not really feel his presence in the treatment. There are two major divisions of pathology, clinical and anatomical. Clinical pathology diagnoses, monitors and confirms disease processes through use of microscopic study of tissue specimens, secretions, cells, and body fluids such as blood and urine. It is divided into sub-specialties, mainly chemical pathology or clinical chemistry, hematology, molecular genetics pathology, cytopathology, blood banking/transfusion medicine and clinical microbiology. Countries outside of the U.S. include the subspecialties of assisted reproductive technology, sperm bank, semen analysis, and immunopathology. U.S. CPs are certified through the American Board of Pathology Assistant which is made up of physicians from various specialties. Some countries outside of the U.S. allow other medical professionals, such as pharmacists, to receive licensing. Each area of specialization has it own set of standards. Clinical chemistry focuses on study and analysis of body fluids. Chemical pathology focuses on hormone function, immune system and antibody function, as well as pharmacology. Hematology specialists work with blood banks to process donated blood, breaking it down into its various components so that it can be used. Medical microbiology studies bacteria, viruses and parasites and is closely related to the study of infectious diseases. A residency may take 3-6 years to complete, for example, the Residency Training Program at University of North Carolina Hospitals has a four-year combined AP and CP residency with opportunities for research and for post-residency subspecialty fellowships. The goals of this training program for clinical pathology in NC is to prepare physicians seeking training for either an academic or community-practice career. This specific medical community contributes greatly to our everyday lives in ways we may not imagine. The American Society of Clinical Pathology has over 130,000 members and provides hundreds of educational programs, national and international certification, coalition building, several publications and other media, They are also active advocates in Washington for the interests of laboratory medicine and are presently involved in a campaign to create 10 new antibiotics relatively soon. This field has fantastic current and future career opportunities. With an average 48 hour work week for all specialties and above average professional satisfaction among those polled by the Univ. of Illinois, clinical pathologists enjoy starting salaries of over $125,000, slightly below surgical specialties. This career promises to be viable in the future with the great variety of positions that can be acquired by those who specialize in it, as well as provide the personal satisfaction that comes with participating in a field that positively impacts the population. For More Information, Please visit our blog Pathologist