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 Cachexia
- 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 Breathing
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Brugada Syndrome
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Cachexia
- Cardiac Channelopathies
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Tumor
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiovascular Disorders Of Newborn
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT)
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Circulatory System Complications
- Coarctation Of The Aorta
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of The Puerperium
- Congenital Heart Block
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Ebstein's Anomaly
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Esophageal Atresia
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Palpitations
- Heart Racing
- High Cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Implantable Cardioverter
- Implantable Defibrillator Complications
- Implantable Defibrillator Maintenance
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Long Qt Syndrome
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Marfan Syndrome
- Maternal Care For Fetal Problems
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Multiple Myeloma With Amyloidosis
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Obesity
- Pain In Throat And Chest
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT)
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCS)
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Protozoal Diseases
- Pulmonary Atresia
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonic Stenosis
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Shock
- Short Qt Syndrome
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Sleep Disorders
- Subcortical Infarction
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Tetralogy Of Fallot
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Transposition Of The Great Arteries
- Tricuspid Atresia
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Vision Disturbances
- Watchman Device Complications
- Watchman Device Implantation
Procedures I perform
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Arrhythmia Monitoring
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Baby Gates
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Study
- Cardiac Event Monitoring
- Cardiac Event Recorder
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Rhythm Monitoring
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Electrophysiology Study
- Electrophysiology Study For Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Endometrial Extraction
- Event Recorder Implantation
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Rhythm Monitoring
- Heart Transplant
- Holter Monitoring
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Lead Extraction
- Implantable Loop Recorder
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Mep (MOTOR EVOKED POTENTIALS)
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Pacemaker Lead Replacement
- Pacemaker Placement
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Repair
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Pulmonary Vein Isolation
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Remote Monitoring Of Pacemakers And Icds
- Supraventricular Tachycardia Management
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- 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
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst EPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Student Resources
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna HMO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- POS OA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Sentara Health
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Classic 3500
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Network OA
- IH-PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Medicare Direct
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst NASCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Administrators
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA EPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Navigate
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- IH-POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- First Health PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Choice POS
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-Indemnity
- Police and Fire Clinic
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Choice POS II
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- TRICARE East Prime
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Beech Street PPO
- HighMark
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Medicare FFS
Education
Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic (1995)
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine (1993)
Residency: St. Louis University Hospital (1990)
Graduate: University of Toledo College of Medicine (1986)