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