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The Competitive Edge IV Drip: What's Inside NextGEN's Athlete Recovery Infusion in Baltimore

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:01:50 GMT

The Competitive Edge IV Drip: What's Inside NextGEN's Athlete Recovery Infusion in Baltimore

Hard training breaks you down on purpose. The work that makes you faster or stronger also drains fluid, burns through electrolytes, and loads your tissues with metabolic stress. How quickly you bounce back decides how hard you can go next time. That recovery window is what NextGEN's Competitive Edge IV is built around.

The Competitive Edge is a $300 infusion of electrolytes, vitamin B12, B-complex vitamins, and glutathione, delivered at our outpatient center at 9920 Franklin Square Dr in Nottingham, MD, just outside Baltimore. It's marketed for muscle recovery, endurance, and performance. Below is the honest version of what's in it, what each ingredient is actually doing, and one rule every competing athlete needs to know before booking. As a Brodsky Hematology affiliate with physician-led oversight , we'd rather tell you the real story than sell you a miracle.

What is the Competitive Edge IV?

It's an intravenous infusion that delivers a recovery-focused blend in a saline base, run through a small catheter in your arm over roughly 30 to 60 minutes. You sit, you relax, and the fluid and nutrients go straight into your bloodstream.

The reason athletes reach for an IV instead of a sports drink comes down to absorption. Swallow electrolytes and vitamins and your gut decides how much actually gets through, a process that slows when you're nauseated, cramping, or wrecked after a long effort. An IV skips that step and puts fluid and nutrients into circulation directly. That's the genuine mechanical advantage. It's also where the honesty has to start, because faster delivery is not the same thing as a bigger result.

What's inside, and what each ingredient does

Electrolytes. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride are what you lose in sweat, and they run muscle contraction, nerve signaling, and fluid balance. Replacing them alongside fluid is the most evidence-supported part of any athlete drip. This is the workhorse of the bag.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin). B12 is essential for red blood cell production and energy metabolism , and low B12 shows up as fatigue and poor stamina. Here's the catch worth knowing: topping up B12 reliably helps people who are actually low on it. In athletes who already have normal levels, extra B12 hasn't been shown to add horsepower. It supports the system; it doesn't supercharge it.

B-complex. The B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6) are the cofactors your cells use to turn carbs, fat, and protein into usable energy. Same rule as B12: they're necessary for the machinery, and replacing them matters most when training volume, restrictive eating, or heavy sweating has left you short.

Glutathione. Your body's main intracellular antioxidant, built from three amino acids. Intense exercise floods muscle with reactive oxygen species, and glutathione is part of how the body buffers that oxidative stress. The interest is reasonable. The evidence that IV glutathione measurably speeds recovery or improves performance is still limited, and it isn't FDA-approved for athletic outcomes. We include it as antioxidant support, not as a guaranteed edge.

The honest part: what an IV can and can't do for performance

A drip is good at one thing above all: getting fluid and electrolytes into you fast when you're depleted. For most athletes, on a normal training day, oral hydration and real food do the same job. The American College of Sports Medicine has long held that drinking fluids works as well as an IV for routine rehydration in healthy people.

So where does the Competitive Edge actually earn its place? Specific situations: you're badly dehydrated and can't keep fluids down, you've finished a brutal event and want to compress recovery, you travel and compete on back-to-back days, or you're running low on the nutrients in the bag and want a fast reset. Outside those cases, an IV is a convenience and a comfort, not a shortcut to fitness you didn't train for. Anyone promising otherwise is selling the bag, not the science.

Before you book: the anti-doping rule competing athletes must know

This is the part most IV clinics skip, and it has ended careers. If you're a drug-tested athlete (NCAA, Olympic, professional, or any sport under the World Anti-Doping Code), WADA prohibits IV infusions over 100 mL in any 12-hour period , in and out of competition. That ban applies even when everything in the bag is legal, including plain saline and vitamins. A standard IV bag holds far more than 100 mL, so a recovery drip can be a rule violation on volume alone.

This is not theoretical. MMA fighter Jon Jones drew a one-year suspension in 2016 for IV fluids that broke the volume limit, even though the contents weren't banned substances. The only routine exceptions are IVs given during hospital treatment, surgery, or diagnostic procedures, or with an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption. If you compete under testing, talk to your sport's anti-doping authority before any IV, including this one. We will tell you the same thing at intake, because a Brodsky Hematology affiliate isn't going to let you walk into a violation.

If you're a recreational athlete, weekend competitor, or generally fit person not subject to drug testing, this rule doesn't apply to you.

What a session feels like

You'll complete a short intake covering your health history, medications, and goals, and a provider reviews it before anything starts. If you have kidney disease, heart failure, or a fluid-sensitive cardiac condition, we may modify or hold the infusion, because your body handles a fluid load differently. A provider checks your vitals, places a small catheter (a quick pinch), and starts the drip. Most people read or scroll through the 30 to 60 minutes. A faint vitamin taste or mild warmth is normal. Afterward the catheter comes out, a bandage goes on, and you're back to your day.

Who's a good fit, and who should hold off

A good candidate is a healthy athlete or active adult who's genuinely depleted, recovering from a hard effort, or stacking events and wants a fast, supervised reset. Talk to a physician first if you have kidney disease, heart failure or another fluid-sensitive condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have allergies to any ingredient. And if you're a tested competitor, see the anti-doping section above before you book anything.

How often does it make sense?

There's no fixed schedule. Most people use a recovery drip situationally: after a race or tournament, during a heavy training block, or when travel and dehydration pile up. It's a tool for specific moments, not a standing subscription. A provider can help you decide whether it fits your training calendar at all, or whether dialing in your daily hydration and nutrition gets you most of the way for free.

Safety and side effects

Given by a licensed provider with sterile technique, IV therapy has a reasonable safety profile, but it isn't zero-risk. You might notice warmth or flushing during the drip, a metallic or vitamin taste, or bruising and tenderness at the IV site. Lightheadedness can happen if the drip runs too fast. Rare risks include allergic reactions and, if technique is poor, infection. The single biggest safety variable is who's running the line, which is exactly why physician oversight matters here.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Competitive Edge and how long does it take? $300, and about 30 to 60 minutes for the infusion plus a little time for intake and IV placement.

Will it boost my performance? It supports recovery and rehydration, which can help you train again sooner. It won't manufacture fitness or endurance you haven't built. The strongest, best-proven benefit is replacing fluid and electrolytes when you're depleted.

I get drug tested. Can I get this drip? Not without checking your anti-doping rules first. IV volumes over 100 mL per 12 hours are prohibited for tested athletes regardless of what's in the bag. Talk to your sport's authority and our team before booking.

Is it FDA-approved? The individual ingredients are approved pharmaceutical products, but a compounded recovery infusion isn't FDA-approved to treat or enhance any condition or athletic outcome. It's a wellness therapy.

Can I drive afterward? Usually yes. If it's your first infusion or you felt lightheaded, rest a few minutes first.

Ready to recover smarter?

The Competitive Edge is one option on NextGEN's wellness infusion menu , delivered in a calm outpatient setting in Nottingham, MD with the clinical oversight of a Brodsky Hematology affiliate. No hospital-style waits, no inflated promises, just supervised IV therapy with straight answers about what it will and won't do. If you want to find out whether it fits your training, reach out to our team or call 410-653-4002.

This information is educational and not medical advice. Some therapies discussed are not FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease or to enhance athletic performance. Competing athletes are responsible for compliance with their anti-doping rules. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new wellness protocol.

IV Iron vs. Oral Iron Supplements: Why Some Patients Need Infusion Therapy

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 16:54:46 GMT

IV Iron vs. Oral Iron Supplements: Why Some Patients Need Infusion Therapy

If you've been taking an iron supplement for months and your fatigue hasn't lifted, or your ferritin level barely moved on your last lab draw, you're not imagining it. For a real slice of patients, oral iron simply doesn't work well enough, fast enough, or without side effects that make daily dosing miserable. That's where IV iron infusion comes in, and it's the question we get most often at NextGen Infusions in Nottingham, MD: why would someone need an infusion when there's a pill sitting on every pharmacy shelf?

The short answer is absorption. The longer answer is worth understanding before your next appointment.

Why Oral Iron Fails More Often Than People Expect

Oral iron tablets (ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous fumarate) are cheap and easy to find, which is exactly why they're the first thing most doctors try. But the body is stingy about how much of that iron it actually lets in. Research on iron supplementation shows that only about 10 to 20 percent of an oral dose gets absorbed in the small intestine, with the rest passing through the digestive tract unused , and standard dosing regimens require relatively high daily doses sustained over several weeks to months to correct a deficiency.

That unabsorbed iron is also what causes the side effects people complain about most: constipation, nausea, cramping, and stool that turns dark or greenish , along with a metallic taste and general stomach discomfort that many patients find hard to tolerate. For some people those symptoms are a mild annoyance. For others, they're the reason the bottle ends up in the back of a cabinet, untouched, three weeks in.

Who Actually Needs IV Iron Instead of Pills

IV iron isn't a shortcut or an upgrade for its own sake. It's the right call for specific patients whose bodies either can't absorb oral iron or can't absorb it fast enough to keep up with losses. Based on current hematology guidance, that includes:

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Active inflammation in the gut both blocks iron absorption and can be worsened by oral iron itself, which makes infusion the preferred route during flares.
Post-bariatric surgery. Procedures that bypass or alter the duodenum, where most iron absorption happens, leave oral supplementation largely ineffective regardless of dose.
Heavy menstrual bleeding. When monthly blood loss outpaces what oral iron can replace, patients stay anemic no matter how consistently they take their pills.
Chronic kidney disease. Elevated hepcidin, a hormone that blocks iron release from the gut and body stores, is common in CKD and blunts oral iron's effectiveness even at high doses.

Across these groups, clinical guidance consistently points toward IV iron as the more reliable option, with formulations shown to be safe and effective for iron deficiency related to CKD, IBD, post-bariatric surgery, heavy uterine bleeding, and pregnancy.

If you fall into one of these categories, or you've simply tried oral iron for a full course and your labs haven't moved, that's the point where a conversation about infusion makes sense, not a last resort after everything else has failed for a year.

What an Infusion Visit Actually Involves

A lot of the hesitation around IV iron comes from not knowing what to expect. The visit itself is straightforward: you're seated in a treatment chair, an IV line is placed, and the infusion runs over a set period depending on the formulation used, typically well under an hour for many modern options. You're monitored throughout, and most patients read, work, or scroll their phone the entire time. There's no fasting requirement and no sedation involved.

Because IV iron bypasses the digestive tract entirely, it also sidesteps the GI side effects that make oral iron hard to stick with. That doesn't mean infusion has zero downsides. Cost is higher than a bottle of tablets, and it requires a clinical setting rather than something you can do at home. But for the patients it's actually indicated for, the tradeoff is usually a fast, well-tolerated correction instead of months of stalled progress.

Getting the Right Diagnosis First

IV iron works best when it's targeted at a confirmed, specific cause, not used as a blanket fix for feeling tired. That's why NextGen Infusions works closely with Brodsky Hematology , the affiliated hematology practice next door, on patients whose iron deficiency needs a real workup before treatment starts. Dr. Brodsky's team identifies what's actually driving the deficiency and whether oral iron has a real shot at working first. When it doesn't, or when the labs point clearly toward malabsorption or ongoing blood loss, that's when infusion at NextGen becomes the next step.

If you've already had that workup, or your PCP has told you oral iron isn't cutting it, see how our wellness and iron infusion services work or contact us to talk through whether an infusion is right for you.

Hematologist vs. Oncologist: What’s the Difference, and Why Benign Hematology Is Its Own Practice

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:13:57 GMT

Hematologist vs. Oncologist: What’s the Difference, and Why Benign Hematology Is Its Own Practice

I get some version of this question in nearly every new patient consult here in Nottingham, MD: "Am I seeing a cancer doctor?" The honest answer is no. I am board certified in hematology, not oncology, and my practice is built specifically around benign hematology, meaning non-cancerous blood disorders. Hematology and oncology overlap in training, but they are not the same practice, and the distinction matters a great deal if you or your patient has just been handed a referral to my office.

What a Hematologist Actually Treats

Hematology is the study and treatment of blood and the organs that make it: bone marrow, the lymphatic system, and the clotting cascade. That includes cancers of the blood, like leukemia and lymphoma. It also includes a much larger category of non-cancerous conditions that never involve a single chemotherapy drug: iron deficiency anemia, unexplained low platelet counts, clotting and bleeding disorders, polycythemia, and abnormal results on a routine complete blood count (CBC) that need a specialist’s eye before anyone can say what they mean.

Oncology, by contrast, is specifically the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in any organ system, not just blood. The two fields overlap because so many blood cancers require both hematologic and oncologic expertise to treat. That overlap is exactly why the distinction gets lost on patients, and sometimes on referring offices too.

Benign Hematology Is Its Own Practice, and It Is Not the Common One

There is a second distinction inside hematology that gets missed even more often than hematology versus oncology, and it is the one that actually describes my practice.

Some hematologists focus on blood cancers: leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma. Others focus on the non-cancerous side: anemia and iron metabolism, platelet disorders, clotting and bleeding disorders, and abnormal blood counts with no clear cause. That second focus is what Brodsky Hematology is. The field’s own professional body, the American Society of Hematology, formally adopted a name for it in 2022: classical hematology. Benign hematology and non-malignant hematology describe the same thing.

One caution about the word benign: it means non-cancerous, not minor. Immune thrombocytopenia, hemophilia, sickle cell disease, and iron deficiency severe enough to require infusion are all benign hematology diagnoses, and none of them are trivial. The label describes what a condition is not. It says nothing at all about how much attention that condition needs, or how much it affects how you feel day to day.

What most patients, and plenty of referring offices, do not realize is how uncommon that focus is. In an ASH workforce survey of 2,500 practicing hematologists, 46 percent reported a shortage of classical hematologists in the field. Follow-up research found that fewer than 5 percent of hematology-oncology fellows planned to build a career in it, and a 2025 study of adult hematologist-oncologists at NCI-designated cancer centers put the practicing figure at roughly 1 in 20. The gap was serious enough that ASH committed $19 million to fund dedicated hematology-focused fellowship tracks, aiming to produce 50 new classical hematologists by 2030.

So when a patient with iron deficiency or an unexplained platelet count asks whether they are in the right place, the more useful question is not hematologist or oncologist. It is whether the hematologist they are seeing practices the non-cancer side of the field every day, or sees it between cancer cases.

Why Most Hematologists Are Also Trained in Oncology

In the United States, hematology and oncology are usually trained together, in a single three-year fellowship after internal medicine residency. The certifying requirements set by the American Board of Internal Medicine build the imbalance directly into that pathway: for dual certification, at least 12 of the 18 required months of clinical training must be spent on neoplastic (cancer) disease, and 6 months on non-neoplastic hematologic disorders. Certifying in hematology alone is a separate, shorter pathway of 24 months.

Physicians who finish fellowship then decide which certifications to maintain, and maintaining oncology certification alongside hematology is a personal choice, not a requirement. I made that choice deliberately. I am board certified in hematology, not in medical oncology, and I built this practice around benign hematology rather than cancer treatment.

That is the piece most patients never hear, and it is worth saying plainly: a referral to me is not a referral to a cancer specialist. It is a referral to someone whose entire practice is figuring out what an abnormal blood finding actually means, which in the majority of cases turns out to be something manageable.

Why the Distinction Matters for Your Referral

For referring physicians, this changes how and where you send a patient. Someone with iron deficiency anemia, an isolated low platelet count, or a family history of clotting disorders does not need an oncology intake process built around chemotherapy scheduling and infusion suites. They need a benign hematology workup: a careful history, targeted labs, and a clear explanation of what the numbers mean, without being routed through a cancer center’s front door and the anxiety that comes with it.

For patients, the distinction lands even more directly. Walking into an oncology waiting room when you have low ferritin and fatigue is a genuinely different experience, emotionally, than walking into a practice built around benign hematology. The diagnosis does not change based on where you are seen. The experience of getting there should match what is actually going on.

What This Means If You Have Been Referred to Me

Most of the patients I see are not being evaluated for cancer. They are being evaluated for things like:

Iron deficiency that has not responded to standard treatment, where the next step is often determining whether oral iron is even the right approach, or whether an iron infusion through NextGen Infusions, our affiliated infusion center, makes more sense
A CBC that came back with an unexplained abnormal value on routine bloodwork
A personal or family history that warrants a clotting disorder evaluation
Chronically low or high platelet counts with no clear cause yet identified

If any of those sound like your situation, or your referring provider’s note said "hematology consult" without much explanation, that uncertainty is normal, and it is exactly what the first visit is for. Learn more about what to expect at a first benign hematology consult, or request an appointment to get a straight answer about what your labs actually mean.

Iron Testing in Early Pregnancy

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:50:14 GMT

Most Pregnant Women Get Their Iron Checked. The Problem Is When.

Almost every expecting mother in Baltimore and Nottingham, MD will have her blood drawn during pregnancy. Iron gets looked at. So far, so good. The catch is timing, and it is the part of prenatal care that we, as a hematology practice, think deserves more attention than it usually gets.

Here is the short version. Standard prenatal care screens for anemia, and it does so at two points: your first prenatal visit, and again somewhere around 24 to 28 weeks. That second window is often where a problem first shows up on paper. By then you are well into the pregnancy, the baby's iron demands are climbing fast, and you are playing catch-up. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends iron supplementation starting in the first trimester precisely because iron need rises so early, yet many women only find out their stores are low once the numbers have already slipped.

We see the downstream version of that story often. A patient gets referred to us at 30 weeks with iron-deficiency anemia that could have been a quick fix at 8 weeks. Testing earlier, and testing the right marker, changes that.

Hemoglobin Is the Last Domino to Fall

Here is the distinction that matters, and the one that gets lost in routine screening.

A standard prenatal blood count measures hemoglobin and hematocrit. Anemia in pregnancy is generally defined as hemoglobin below 11 g/dL in the first and third trimesters, and below 10.5 g/dL in the second. Those thresholds are useful, but they catch the problem at the end of the process, not the beginning.

Iron deficiency runs in stages. First your iron stores empty out. Only later, once those stores are gone, does hemoglobin drop and anemia appear on the lab report. Ferritin is the blood test that reflects those stores, and it falls before hemoglobin does. That means a woman can have a perfectly normal hemoglobin and still be running on fumes, with iron stores already low and headed lower as the pregnancy progresses.

This is not a theory. Research has shown that a low ferritin level in the first trimester predicts who will go on to develop anemia later in pregnancy . A normal hemoglobin early on is reassuring, but it is not the whole picture. If you want to know whether the tank is full, you check the tank, not the warning light.

Why Low Iron in Pregnancy Is Worth Taking Seriously

Your body is not subtle about its iron needs in pregnancy. Blood volume rises by close to half. The recommended daily iron intake jumps to 27 mg, well above what most women get before they conceive. Your body is building a baby, a placenta, and a much larger blood supply, all at once, all from your iron.

When that demand outruns supply, the consequences are not trivial. Iron-deficiency anemia in pregnancy is associated with higher risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, and other poor outcomes for both mother and baby . Low iron can also dent your infant's early iron levels and may affect brain development. For the mother, it means worse fatigue, less reserve to handle blood loss at delivery, and a harder postpartum recovery. To be clear, these are associations, and not every poor outcome is caused by low iron. But the link is consistent enough, and the fix is simple enough, that catching it early is worth the small effort of a blood test.

The Honest Part: The Guidelines Are Still Catching Up

We are not going to oversell this, because that is not how a hematology practice should talk.

Routine ferritin testing for every pregnant woman is not yet a universal guideline. In 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded the evidence was insufficient to make a blanket recommendation for screening iron deficiency in asymptomatic pregnant women , and ACOG does not currently recommend treating iron deficiency before it has progressed to anemia. There is also no single agreed-upon ferritin number that defines deficiency in pregnancy, though many clinicians act on a ferritin below 30 ng/mL.

So why are we writing this at all? Because "no consensus yet" is not the same as "no value." We work with blood for a living. When a patient has risk factors (heavy periods before pregnancy, a short gap between pregnancies, a plant-based diet, a history of anemia, or twins), a first-trimester ferritin is a low-cost piece of information that can spare a lot of trouble later. The right move is not to panic-order labs. It is to have an informed conversation with your provider about whether checking your iron stores early makes sense for you. If you want to understand what a hematologist brings to that conversation, our explainer on what a hematologist actually does is a good starting point.

What Testing Early Actually Changes

Timing changes the whole menu of options.

Caught early, low iron is usually a problem you solve with diet adjustments and oral iron tablets, taken correctly, with time to work before the third-trimester surge in demand. Caught late, oral iron may not raise your levels fast enough before delivery. That is when intravenous iron enters the picture, a treatment a hematology team can coordinate when oral iron is not tolerated, not absorbed, or simply not enough on the clock that is left. Both paths work. The early one is gentler, cheaper, and far less stressful.

That is the entire argument for testing early. Not fear, not upselling. Just more runway to fix something small before it becomes something larger.

Talk to Us Before You Need To

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy in the Baltimore or Nottingham, MD area and you have any history of low iron, anemia, or heavy menstrual bleeding, do not wait for a lab to flag it at 28 weeks. Reach out to the team at Brodsky Hematology and we will help you figure out whether early iron testing is right for your situation, and what to do if your stores are running low.

Iron is our specialty. Getting ahead of it is the easiest win in pregnancy care, and we would rather see you at week 8 than week 30.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Iron testing and supplementation decisions should be made with your own healthcare provider based on your individual history.

What Does A Hematologist Do?

Fri, 29 May 2026 03:34:19 GMT

What does a hematologist actually do?

By Dr. Max Brodsky, MD · Brodsky Hematology · White Marsh, MD · May 2026

You got a referral to a hematologist. Maybe your doctor flagged something on your labs, or maybe you've been dealing with fatigue or unexplained bruising for months and someone finally said, "You should see a specialist." Either way, you probably have questions. Let me answer the big ones.

Hematologists specialize in blood

Hematology is the study of blood and all the organs it flows through. As a hematologist, I diagnose and manage conditions that affect red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and the proteins that control clotting. You can learn more on our What Is Hematology page.

That covers a lot of territory. Some conditions are chronic but manageable. Some need urgent attention. Most land somewhere in between.

Common reasons patients get referred to a hematologist:

Anemia, particularly iron deficiency anemia. This affects around 20 million people in the US, and many go undiagnosed for years.
Clotting disorders, including DVT (deep vein thrombosis), pulmonary embolism, and inherited conditions that make blood clot too easily or not easily enough.
Low or high platelet counts. Conditions like ITP (immune thrombocytopenia) affect how the body controls bleeding.
Abnormal CBC results. A routine complete blood count can show changes in red cells, white cells, or platelets that need a closer look.
Pre-operative clearance. Surgeons sometimes need a hematologist's sign-off before a procedure when a patient has a bleeding history or abnormal labs.
Polycythemia vera and other bone marrow conditions that affect how blood cells are produced.

A full list of conditions we treat is on the Care & Services page.

Why see a private hematologist?

Here's the reality: most hospital hematology programs are built around oncology. If you have anemia, a clotting disorder, ITP, or abnormal labs, you can end up waiting months for an appointment because the centers focus primarily on building up a robust infrastructure for cancer care, while neglecting a focus on hematology.

I built this practice to create a calm, enjoyable experience for patients with hematologic diagnoses.

You get a thorough evaluation from a team of providers who know you and understand your condition. Infusions are done in-office. Follow-up doesn't take weeks to schedule. Parking is free.

We are here to help you on your health journey.

What happens at your first appointment?

Your first visit is a consultation. I'll review your labs and medical history, ask about your symptoms and timeline, and may order additional bloodwork depending on what I'm seeing.

You don't need to come in having memorized your lab values or researched every diagnosis on Google. That's my job; you'll leave knowing what's going on and what we're doing about it.

If your condition requires ongoing management or infusions, those are available in-office. You can look at infusion services and care options on the website ahead of time if you want.

What to bring

Any recent lab work, including the CBC that triggered the referral
A list of current medications and supplements (iron, blood thinners, and NSAIDs are relevant)
A list of symptoms and when they started, even ones that seem unrelated
Your insurance card and a photo ID
Referral paperwork if your insurance requires it

If you can, have your referring provider fax recent labs to our office beforehand. I like to look at trends in your numbers before we sit down, and it makes the visit go faster.

Bring a family member if you want. A lot of patients find it helpful to have a second set of ears.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a referral to see a hematologist? Many patients come through a referral, but you don't need one. If you're not sure whether a visit makes sense, just call the office, 410-653-4002.

Does a hematology referral mean I have cancer? No. Most of my patients have benign blood disorders — anemia, clotting issues, abnormal counts. If something concerning does come up, we let you know. But a referral by itself doesn't mean cancer.

How long is the first visit? About 30 to 45 minutes. I go through your history and explain what I'm finding. Show up a few minutes early for paperwork.

Do you take insurance? Most major plans, yes. Call ahead to verify. We also see patients on a cash pay basis.

Telemedicine? For follow-ups and lab reviews.

What is a CBC? A complete blood count. It measures red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. It's probably the most common blood test your primary care doctor orders, and it's often the thing that triggers a hematology referral in the first place.

You don't need to figure this out alone

Getting a specialist referral can feel like a lot, especially when you don't have a clear diagnosis yet. Show up, ask your questions, and let us do what we do.

If you have a referral or think you need a blood disorder evaluation, schedule online or call (410) 653-4002.

Providers can refer through our referrals page or fax to (443) 678-5155.

9920 Franklin Square Drive, Suite 220, White Marsh, MD 21236

Phone: 410.653.4002 Fax: 443.678.5155 Email: Office@brodskyhematology.com

Office hours: Mon–Thu 9am–5pm | Fri by appointment

About the author: Dr. Max Brodsky is a hematologist specializing in benign blood disorders, including anemia, clotting conditions, ITP, and pre-operative hematologic evaluation. He founded Brodsky Hematology to provide direct, accessible specialist care outside of the traditional hospital system. Brodsky Hematology serves adult patients in White Marsh, Maryland.