Blerta Hamza, MSN NP
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health
Provider is directly employed by MedStar HealthSpecialties: Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Hospital Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Pulmonary 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
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-POS
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UHC Passport
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst NASCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- HighMark
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE East Prime
- TRICARE for Life East
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Network OA
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Sentara Health
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- First Health PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Employee Health Plan
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Core Essential (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Basic
- Navigate
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Optimum Choice
- Medicare Direct
- CIGNA EPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- First Health PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Administrators
- OA Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- POS OA
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst EPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
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