Blerta Hamza, MSN NP
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health
Provider is directly employed by MedStar HealthSpecialties: Hematology and Oncology, Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Pulmonary Disease
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
- Lung Cancer Treatment
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Exacerbation Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Central Sleep Apnea
- Chronic Asthma
- Chronic Cough
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Emphysema
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Pleurisy
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Respiratory Failure
- Sarcoidosis
- Sepsis
Procedures I perform
- Airway Dilation
- Arthrocentesis
- Asthma Management
- Bronchoscopy
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
- Copd Management
- Cystic Fibrosis Treatment
- Cystitis Management
- Endobronchial Ultrasound
- Homocysteine Lowering Therapy
- Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Management
- Impedance Plethysmography
- Intubation
- Laryngoscopy With Tumor Excision
- Lobectomy
- Lung Biopsy
- Lung Cancer Treatment
- Lung Transplant
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Nebulizer Therapy
- Non-Invasive Ventilation
- Pleural Cavity Drainage
- Pulmonary Function Tests
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Sleep Study
- Spirometry Test
- Thoracoscopy
- Thoracoscopy With Pleurodesis
- Tracheostomy
- Tracheostomy Management
- Transplant Pneumonectomy
- Wedge Resection
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
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Choice POS II
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UHC Passport
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- HighMark
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- POS OA
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-Network Only Plus
- TRICARE for Life East
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Sentara Health
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE East Select
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- First Health PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Student Resources
- Core Essential (HMO)
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst NASCO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA EPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Network OA
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Choice POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-HMO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-POS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Navigate
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Basic
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- First Health PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
Education
Board Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center
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