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.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-HMO
- TRICARE East Select
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- HighMark
- Choice POS II
- Sentara Health
- Navigate
- Choice POS II Open Access
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Basic
- IH-Open POS II
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna HMO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- First Health PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Network OA
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-POS
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- TRICARE East Prime
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-EPO Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- OA Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic Education Foundation (1995)
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine (1993)
Residency: St. Louis University Hospital (1990)
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine (1986)