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 Ablation
- Atrial Flutter
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Study
- Electrophysiology Study For Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Racing
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Palpitations
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Tachycardia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Watchman Device Implantation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bradycardia
- Brugada Syndrome
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Channelopathies
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT)
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Heart Block
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Heart Disease
- Heart Palpitations
- Heart Racing
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Implantable Cardioverter
- Implantable Defibrillator Complications
- Implantable Defibrillator Maintenance
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Long Qt Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT)
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCS)
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Atresia
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Short Qt Syndrome
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Watchman Device Complications
- Watchman Device Implantation
Procedures I perform
- Arrhythmia Monitoring
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Study
- Cardiac Event Monitoring
- Cardiac Event Recorder
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Rhythm Monitoring
- Cardioversion
- Electrophysiology Study
- Electrophysiology Study For Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Endometrial Extraction
- Event Recorder Implantation
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Rhythm Monitoring
- Holter Monitoring
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Lead Extraction
- Implantable Loop Recorder
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Pacemaker Lead Replacement
- Pacemaker Placement
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Pulmonary Vein Isolation
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Remote Monitoring Of Pacemakers And Icds
- Supraventricular Tachycardia Management
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Watchman Device Implantation
- Wireless Event Recorder Monitoring
- Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome Treatment
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Choice Fund PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Navigate
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-Open HMO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Student Resources
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Choice POS II
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- OA Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Core Essential (HMO)
- POS OA
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Network OA
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Basic
- First Health PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Choice POS
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Indemnity
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Sentara Health
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- TRICARE for Life East
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- HighMark
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Medicare FFS
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Administrators
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
Education
Board Certification: ,
Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic (1995)
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine (1993)
Residency: St. Louis University Hospital (1990)
Graduate: University of Toledo College of Medicine (1986)