About me
Margaret "Marty" Bell Fischer, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and pediatric cardiology and is Director of the Congenital and Structural Arrhythmia Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She specializes in adult and pediatric cardiac electrophysiology with a specialized focus on adult congenital heart disease and patients with inherited rhythm disturbances.
Dr. Fischer received her medical degree from the University of Toledo. She then completed her residency program at St. Louis University/Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, a fellowship at Texas Children's Hospital/Texas Heart Institute and a fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. She had visiting fellowships at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London and Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.
Her clinical interests include adult congenital heart disease, cardiac anomalies in previous surgeries, and inherited arrhythmia disorders. Her research interests include multi-center trials for new catheter techniques, using different types of catheters, and improving the technology of implant devices.
Dr. Fischer is an advocate for the recognition of an underserved population of adults with congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease is severely under-identified in adults. With knowledge of previously diagnosed conditions and past surgeries, Dr. Fischer's skill set allows her to properly care for adults with congenital heart disease. She is also an advocate for the improvement of the use of remote heart monitoring devices. Dr. Fischer hopes to provide more patients with the advantages of remote monitoring through education for both patients and referring physicians.
After a few years of caring for patients in remote communities in Pennsylvania, Dr. Fischer grew passionate about community outreach and education. She realized that a large population of the rural United States is not receiving adequate care. Her goal is to generate community outreach opportunities, in order to ensure that both patients, as well as referring physicians, know what options can be available to them. In her free time, Dr. Fischer dedicates herself to her passion of dressage.
"I am my patient's best advocate. My aim is to generate a collaborative effort with my patients in order to get them involved in the decisions we make about their treatment. Through building a strong relationship with my patients, I hope to gain their trust and become a person that they feel comfortable opening up to, without fear of judgment or ridicule.
It is important to me to educate patients thoroughly, or as much as possible, and to be accessible when needed. When I'm with a patient, this individual is the focus of all of my attention. My goal is to improve quality of life as well as my patient's longevity."
Clinical areas of focus
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Heart Racing
- Implantable Defibrillator
- Pacemaker
- Palpitations
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Tachycardia
- Watchman Device Implantation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Abnormal Stress Test
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease In Pregnancy
- Alagille Syndrome
- Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
- Amyloidosis
- Anomalies Of Pulmonary Circulation
- Anomalies Of The Aorta
- Anomalies Of The Coronary Artery
- Anomalous Atrioventricular Excitation
- Anomalous Coronary Artery (ACA)
- Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage
- Aortic Coarctation
- Aortic Diseases
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aorto Left Ventricular Fistula
- Arrhythmias During Pregnancy
- Arrhythmias In Adults With Congenital Heart Diseases
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of The Aorta
- Athletic Heart Syndrome
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Atrial Tachycardia
- Atrioventricular Block
- Atrioventricular Canal Defects
- Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia
- Atrioventricular Reentrant Tachycardia
- Autoimmune Pericarditis
- Barth Syndrome
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Brugada Syndrome
- Cardiac Angina
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Channelopathies
- Cardiac Conduction Defects
- Cardiac Device Infection
- Cardiac Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Tumor
- Cardio Oncology
- Cardiomegaly
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiorenal Syndrome
- Carotid Intimal Thickness
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Common Aortopulmonary Trunk
- Complete Atrioventricular Block
- Complex Arrhythmia
- Conduction Defects
- Congenital Anomalies Of The Great Veins
- Congenital Aortic Valve Disease
- Congenital Atresia Of The Pulmonary Valve
- Congenital Cyanotic Heart Disease
- Congenital Heart Block
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Congenital Infundibular Stenosis
- Congenital Insufficiency Of The Aortic Valve
- Congenital Mitral Valve Disease
- Congenital Mitral Valve Regurgitation
- Congenital Stenosis Of The Aortic Valve
- Congenital Stenosis Of The Mitral Valve
- Congenital Stenosis Of The Pulmonary Valve
- Congenital Subaortic Stenosis
- Congenital Tricuspid Stenosis
- Congenitally Corrected Transposition Of The Great Arteries
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Cor Biloculare
- Cor Triatriatum
- Coronary Artery Fistula
- Cyanotic Heart Disease
- Dextrocardia
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Double Aortic Arch
- Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV)
- Double Outlet Ventricle
- Ebstein's Anomaly
- Edema
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Endocardial Cushion Defect
- Exercise Intolerance
- Familial Arrhythmias
- Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Family History Of Sudden Cardiac Death
- First Degree Heart Block
- Fontan Procedure Survivor
- Genetic Cardiomyopathy
- Giant Cell Myocarditis
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Problems
- Heart Racing
- Heterotaxy Syndromes
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
- Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis
- Infiltrative Disorders Of The Heart
- Infundibular Right Ventricular Outflow Obstruction
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Lead Malfunction
- Left Bundle Branch Block
- Long Qt Syndrome
- Lown Ganong Levine Syndrome
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mild Pulmonic Stenosis
- Mitral Atresia
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction (MI)
- Myocarditis
- Myxoma
- Obstructive Anomalies Of The Heart
- Orthopnea
- Orthostatic Hypotension
- Ostium Primum Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Overriding Aorta
- Pacemaker Infection
- Pacemaker Malfunction
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR)
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pericarditis
- Persistent Ostium Primum
- Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
- Pre Excitation Syndrome
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Beats
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presyncope
- Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
- Pulmonary Artery Coarctation And Atresia
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Vascular Obstructive Diseases
- Pulmonic Valve Stenosis
- Refractory Angina
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Aortic Regurgitation
- Rheumatic Aortic Stenosis
- Rheumatic Diseases Of Pulmonary Valve
- Rheumatic Fever
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Failure
- Rheumatic Mitral Regurgitation
- Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis
- Right Bundle Branch Block
- Right Heart Failure
- Right Ventricular Dysplasia
- Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Secondary Hypertension
- Shone's Syndrome
- Short Qt Syndrome
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Defect
- Sinoatrial Node Dysfunction
- Sinus Node Dysfunction
- Sinus Of Valsalva Fistula/Aneurysm
- Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Subaortic Stenosis
- Subvalvar Aortic Stenosis
- Supravalvar Aortic Stenosis
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Tachycardia Bradycardia Syndrome
- Tetralogy Of Fallot (TOF)
- Transposition Of Great Vessels
- Transposition Of The Great Arteries (TGA)
- Tricuspid Atresia
- Tricuspid Atresia And Truncus Arteriosus
- Tricuspid Regurgitation
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Trifascicular Block
- Trucus Arteriosus
- Type 1 Second Degree Heart Block
- Type 2 Second Degree Heart Block
- Unstable Angina
- Valve Stenosis
- Valvular Endocarditis
- Vascular Ring
- Vasovagal Syncope
- Ventricular Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Septal Defects
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Viral Cardiomyopathy
- Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Procedures I perform
- 4D Flow Mri
- Ablation Arrhythmogenic Focus
- Ablation Av Node
- Ablation For Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Adenosine Stress Test
- Advanced Lipid Blood Tests
- Aortic Angioplasty
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Fibrillation Cryoablation
- Atrial Fibrillation Radiofrequency Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation (CCM)
- Cardiac Device Implant
- Cardiac Devices
- Cardiac Implantable Device Replacement
- Cardiac Mapping
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiac Risk Assessment
- Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
- Cardiovascular Care
- Cardioversion
- Cholesterol Management
- Collateral Vessel Closure
- Convergent Procedure
- Defibrillator Malfunction
- Directional Atherectomy
- Dobutamine Stress Test
- Heart Health
- Holter Monitor
- Implantable Cardiac Monitor Procedure
- Implantable Defibrillator
- In Office Cardiac Echocardiogram
- In Office Cardiac Stress Test
- Intracardiac Catheter Ablation
- Intravenous Lead Extraction
- Lariat Procedure
- Laser Lead Extraction
- Lead Extraction
- Left Atrial Appendage Closure
- Loop Recorder
- Pacemaker
- Pacemaker And Icd Interrogation
- Pacemaker Placement
- Preoperative Evaluation
- Preventative Cardiology
- Pulmonary And Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Pulmonary Vein Isolation
- Radiofrequency Rhizotomy
- Remote Cardiac Device Monitoring
- Replacement Of Defibrillator
- Resynchronization Therapy
- Rotational Atherectomy
- Stress Echo Cardiogram
- Tilt Table Test
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram
- Transvenous Lead Extraction
- Watchman Device Implantation
- Wearable Defibrillator
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
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- Cigna HealthSpring Medicare Advantage
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland
- Open POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Open HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- PPO and PPO Plus
- Innovation Health: POS
- Network OA
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna HMO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Opoen HMO Option
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Choice
- CIGNA EPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Student Resources
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Tricare Prime
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- FIRST HEALTH
- First Health PPO
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology
Fellowship Program: Cleveland Clinic (1995)
Fellowship Program: Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital (1995)
Fellowship Program: Brompton Hospital (1993)
Fellowship Program: Texas Childrens Hospital (1993)
Residency Program: St. Louis University Medical Center (1990)
Medical School: University of Toledo (1986)