A US perspective on optimising the inpatient classical haematology consultation service

The inpatient classical haematology consult service occupies a specialised, complex, and high-acuity domain in the hospital setting. As three academic classical haematologists practicing primarily or exclusively as inpatient consultants in the US, we describe the wide spectrum of haematological disorders we manage in our practices and the rapidly expanding number and complexity of treatments we have to offer, therefore necessitating a substantial breadth and depth of diagnostic and therapeutic expertise to practice successfully in this setting. We also discuss the personnel and structural components necessary to run an effective consult service within the US health-care system, the benefits that the service can bring to an academic centre, including provision of complex multidisciplinary care and education and mentorship of future haematologists, and the role of the consult service within the growing field of systems-based haematology. We advocate for institutional recognition of the value a well functioning classical haematology consultation service offers, and for support of classical haematologists pursuing inpatient-focused careers. Academic centres that support well run classical haematology services will be well positioned to offer patients the expertise and complex multidisciplinary care necessary for successful practice in our growing field.