Blerta Hamza, MSN NP
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health
Provider is directly employed by MedStar HealthSpecialties: Pulmonary Medicine, Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Medicine
Languages: English
202-877-8539
Only sees patients in a hospital setting and does not schedule visits.
About me
Blerta Hamza, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner who is board-certified in adult gerontology at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She specializes in the management of cancerous and noncancerous nodules (abnormal spots) in the lungs. She is also a member of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
Her approach to care centers on nurturing trusting and compassionate relationships that empower patients to prioritize their overall well-being. She begins by having empathetic and insightful conversations about their conditions, wellness goals, and healthcare barriers. She also performs exams that include reviews of medical histories and imaging tests. She then collaborates with an experienced and multidisciplinary team of specialists – pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists – to develop personalized treatment, management, and support plans.
Blerta is dedicated to advancing the early detection of lung nodules to identify cancers when they are most curable. Her research interests focus on boosting enrollment in tobacco cessation programs to reduce the risks of adverse health issues. She is also excited about the hospital’s new Lung Nodule Clinic that provides comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, and monitoring options at one convenient location. Referring physicians should know that Blerta is committed to sharing regular updates about their patients’ progress while providing evidence-based care to optimize the quality of their lives.
Philosophy of care
“My admiration of healthcare workers started when I was a child with an illness of my mother. The compassion and patience given to her by doctors, nurses, and other clinicians sparked my initial drive to enter the field. That journey included working in inpatient hospital settings, where I cared for many patients with late-stage lung cancer. These two experiences motivated me to eventually specialize in lung nodule medicine and educate people about the importance of early screenings.”
About the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute
MedStar Washington Hospital Center is part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, which combines medical expertise, the latest therapies, and research across MedStar Health. Our research engine, the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C., region. This partnership means we provide access to cutting-edge clinical trials and the latest breakthroughs in cancer care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Arthrocentesis
- Asthma Management
- Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Management
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Exacerbation Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Central Sleep Apnea
- Chronic Asthma
- Chronic Cough
- Emphysema
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Respiratory Failure
- Sepsis
Procedures I perform
- Airway Dilation
- Arthrocentesis
- Asthma Management
- Copd Management
- Cystic Fibrosis Treatment
- Cystitis Management
- Homocysteine Lowering Therapy
- Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Management
- Impedance Plethysmography
- Laryngoscopy With Tumor Excision
- Lung Cancer Screening
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Nebulizer Therapy
- Pleural Cavity Drainage
- Pulmonary Function Tests
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Spirometry Test
- Thoracoscopy With Pleurodesis
- Tracheostomy Management
- Transplant Pneumonectomy
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Navigate
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-Open POS II
- UHC Passport
- TRICARE East Prime
- Core Essential (HMO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Optimum Choice
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CIGNA PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Basic
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- TRICARE for Life East
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Administrators
- TRICARE East Select
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst EPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Sentara Health
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- MultiPlan, Inc
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- First Health PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- HighMark
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- OA Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Choice POS II
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Medicare FFS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Choice POS
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
Education
Board Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Graduate: George Washington University (2020)
Awards
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing, Phi Epsilon Chapter Golden Key International Honor Society