Heather Tennyson, FNP| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
Heather Tennyson is a certified nurse practitioner specializing in gastroenterology at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital, where she first started working as a nursing technician while attending college. She earned her Associate of Science in Nursing degree from the College of Southern Maryland and became a registered nurse supporting the MedStar St. Mary’s Telemetry and Emergency Departments for seven years, followed by 10 years at a local surgery center. While working and raising her children, Heather received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Nursing from University of Maryland Global Campus and Purdue Global University, respectively.
In addition to a wide variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, Heather has extensive interest in treating acute and chronic diseases including irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Gastroenterological Association.
Heather, a native of St. Mary’s County, lives in Tall Timbers, Maryland, with her partner, three children, and Shih Tzu. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and putting together jigsaw puzzles.
"Every patient and their family are different, with their own unique needs. My goal is to design an individual treatment plan to help every one of my patients achieve the best possible outcome."
Clinical areas of focus
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Enterectomy
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Helicobacter Pylori Stool Test
- Pancreatitis
- Stent Placement
- Transrectal Ultrasound
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissures
- Anal Venous Thrombosis
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Biliary Tract Obstruction
- Bloody Stools
- Bowel Obstruction
- Cancer Of The Appendix
- Choledocholithiasis
- Colitis
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyp
- Colon Polyps
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Disorders Of Mineral Metabolism
- Diverticular Disease
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Flatulence
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- General Symptoms
- Genetic Susceptibility To Disease
- H. Pylori Infection
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Infections
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Ovarian Cysts And Benign Neoplasms
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Itching
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Diseases
- Throat Pain
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Viral Hepatitis
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- Biofeedback
- Bleeding Ulcer Treatment
- Cholecystectomy
- Cholelithiasis Treatment
- Chronic Liver Disease Treatment
- Colonoscopy
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Endoscopic Clip Placement
- Enterectomy
- Ercp With Stone Extraction
- Fecal Microbiota Transplant
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Bacterial Infection Diagnosis
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Care
- Gastrointestinal Complications Of Diabetes Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Consultation
- Gastrointestinal Disease Prevention
- Gastrointestinal Disease Screening
- Gastrointestinal Evaluation
- Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
- Gastrointestinal Functional Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Health Maintenance
- Gastrointestinal Infection Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Intervention
- Gastrointestinal Management
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Therapy
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrointestinal Wellness
- Helicobacter Pylori Stool Test
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Liver Disease Consultation
- Liver Imaging
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Pain Medication Management
- Pancreatitis Treatment
- Radiation Therapy
- Rectal Stricture Dilation
- Skin Allergy Testing
- Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Testing
- Stent Placement
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
- Weight Management Program
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
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Network OA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- POS OA
- CareFirst Administrators
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Navigate
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Employee Health Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Indemnity
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice
- UHC Passport
- IH-PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst NASCO
- OA Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-POS
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open HMO Option
- First Health PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Choice POS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-HMO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
Education
Board Certification: American Association of Nurse Practitioners,
Graduate: Purdue University Global (2021)