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