Charles Cummings, MD in Baltimore: Interventional Cardiology and Complex Coronary Cases
Charles Cummings, MD, is an interventional cardiologist in Baltimore who specializes in catheter-based coronary interventions, including cases with chronic total occlusions and complex lesions that many cardiologists refer elsewhere. His practice focuses on revascularization for patients with blockages unsuitable for bypass surgery or requiring alternative percutaneous approaches, placing him in a narrower specialty tier than general interventional cardiology.
What Cummings offers
Cummings performs coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and intracoronary imaging to guide stent placement. He takes referrals for chronic total occlusions (CTOs), calcified lesions, and bifurcation disease, treating patients whose arterial anatomy has ruled out standard catheter techniques elsewhere. He also manages acute coronary syndromes and offers follow-up care for post-intervention patients. The practice includes stress testing, echocardiography, and office-based risk assessment for patients before and after interventional procedures.
Services and typical costs
Cummings's fee for an initial office consultation with advanced imaging typically runs $250 to $400, depending on whether stress testing or echocardiography is bundled; most insurance plans cover a portion. Catheterization and intervention procedures are facility-based charges at an affiliated cardiac center and vary widely ($8,000 to $40,000 depending on complexity and the hospital's contractual rates with your plan). Drug-eluting stents, which most patients now receive, are included in the facility charge but may carry a patient coinsurance responsibility of $1,000 to $3,000 after meeting deductible and out-of-pocket limits. Patients should verify current codes and fees with their insurance before scheduling complex interventions.
How Cummings compares to other Baltimore cardiologists
General interventional cardiologists in Baltimore, such as those at Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland Medical Center, handle most routine PCI cases; Cummings's referral base comes from their complicated cases. Interventionalists at Mercy Medical Center and Sinai Hospital manage high volumes of standard interventions at lower complexity. Cummings's focus on chronic total occlusions and calcified lesions means shorter wait times for those specific indications (often 1 to 2 weeks) but longer lead times for routine stress tests (3 to 4 weeks). If your blockage is straightforward, a larger-volume center may offer faster convenience; if imaging and prior attempts elsewhere have labeled your case "not suitable for PCI," referral to Cummings is the intended pathway.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Cummings suits patients with:
- Blockages identified as chronic total occlusions on prior catheterization
- Severely calcified lesions requiring rotational atherectomy or other debulking
- Failed prior PCI attempts elsewhere, or anatomy deemed "too complex" by other interventionalists
- Patients who want to defer or avoid coronary artery bypass surgery and still pursue percutaneous revascularization
Cummings is not the right fit for:
- Stable patients without prior imaging who need a first-time stress test or general cardiology consultation (general internists or primary cardiologists serve that role faster)
- Patients in crisis without a warm referral (emergency cases go to the nearest interventional center, not a specialty referral)
What a first visit involves
Initial appointments typically last 45 minutes to an hour. Cummings reviews your prior cardiac imaging, angiography reports, and any previous intervention attempts. He orders or reviews updated imaging (stress test, echocardiogram, or coronary CT) if you do not have recent films. You will discuss symptom severity, functional impact, and whether you want to pursue intervention or manage medically. If catheterization and intervention are planned, nursing staff will arrange pre-procedure labs, anesthesia consultation, and hospital admissions. Bring insurance cards, a list of current medications (especially antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants), and prior cardiac imaging on disc if available.
Hours, location, and logistics
Cummings practices at a cardiology office in the downtown or adjacent Baltimore area; office hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with urgent consultations accommodated same-day when referrals are received directly from other cardiologists. Parking at the office varies by location; confirm with the scheduler when booking. Catheterization and intervention procedures are scheduled at an affiliated interventional lab at a major Baltimore hospital, usually within 7 to 10 days of consultation for elective complex cases. Verify specific office location and current hours before scheduling, as cardiology group affiliations and office locations may change.
Why Cummings matters in Baltimore
Baltimore's large Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland cardiac programs handle routine and high-volume interventions, but Cummings fills the gap for patients whose coronary anatomy or prior treatment history exceeds standard percutaneous options. He reduces unnecessary referrals for bypass surgery and keeps complex revascularization local.
