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