Robert DiBianco, MD in Baltimore: Interventional Cardiology at University of Maryland Medical Center

Robert DiBianco is an interventional cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, specializing in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), procedures that open blocked arteries without open surgery. His practice sits within UMMC's cardiac catheterization lab, one of the highest-volume catheterization facilities in the Mid-Atlantic, and he accepts most major insurance plans including Medicare, Blue Cross, and Aetna.

What he does and where he fits

DiBianco's focus is interventional cardiology, the subset of cardiac care that uses catheter-based imaging and devices to treat blockages directly. Unlike a general cardiologist who manages medications and refers out, or a cardiac surgeon who performs bypass grafts, an interventional cardiologist performs angiography (imaging arteries with contrast dye) and places stents (metal mesh tubes) to restore blood flow. At UMMC, he works in a catheterization lab equipped for both elective procedures and emergency intervention during acute heart attacks. He is on staff as a faculty physician and sees patients both as referrals from other cardiologists and directly.

Services and patient categories

DiBianco performs diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents, the standard approach to treating symptomatic blockages and acute coronary syndromes. Patients referred to him typically have had chest pain, a positive stress test, or symptoms of unstable angina or recent heart attack. Some come for elective evaluation before major surgery; others are admitted emergently through the ER with active coronary events. Many are Medicare beneficiaries or on private insurance; UMMC's financial counselors help uninsured or underinsured patients navigate cost-sharing. Specific procedure costs are handled through UMMC's central billing and vary by insurance and complexity; the facility is transparent about costs on request and can often provide estimates before non-emergent procedures.

How UMMC interventional cardiology compares locally

Baltimore has three major cardiac interventional centers: University of Maryland Medical Center (where DiBianco practices), Johns Hopkins Hospital, and MedStar Heart Institute at Union Memorial. All three perform high volumes of angiography and PCI and are equipped for emergency intervention. The key practical difference for patients is affiliation and access. UMMC is part of the University of Maryland Medical System, serves a large population on Medicaid and Medicare, and has a publicly transparent research mission; Johns Hopkins is independent and academically research-heavy; Union Memorial is part of the MedStar system and offers another network for those with MedStar-affiliated primary care. Wait times for elective catheterization are typically 2 to 4 weeks at UMMC, with emergencies accommodated immediately.

Who this fits and who it doesn't

DiBianco is the right choice if you have a referral for coronary intervention, need elective catheterization with a high-volume center, or are admitted to UMMC with an acute coronary event. He is not a first-contact cardiologist for routine checkups or medication management; patients without a cardiac diagnosis should see their primary care doctor first. If you are looking for a cardiologist who does office visits and stress testing but not catheterization, a community-based cardiologist may be more accessible. If you have existing relationships with Johns Hopkins or MedStar, those systems may streamline your care within their own networks.

What the first visit involves

If referred for catheterization, you will have a pre-procedure visit (often by phone or same-day) to review your history, medications, and allergies, especially contrast dye allergy. The procedure itself is done in the catheterization lab under light sedation; a catheter is inserted (usually via the groin or wrist), and dye is injected to visualize the coronary arteries. If blockages are found and intervention is planned, stents are placed in the same procedure. You will be monitored in recovery for 4 to 6 hours and typically discharged the same day or kept overnight if complications arise. Post-procedure, you will take dual antiplatelet medication (aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor) for at least a year and have follow-up imaging or stress testing months later.

Hours, location, and logistics

UMMC's cardiac catheterization lab operates 7 days a week, with elective procedures scheduled weekdays and emergency capability 24/7. The hospital is located at 22 S. Greene Street in downtown Baltimore. Parking is available in the UMMC garage at the corner of Greene and Fayette Streets (verification recommended for current rates); valet is available for patients who cannot walk long distances. Patients undergoing procedures should arrange for a driver, as sedation prevents driving the same day. Appointments and referrals are processed through UMMC's physician referral line (1-877-UMMC-DOCS).

DiBianco's high-volume practice and UMMC's round-the-clock catheterization lab capacity make this location essential for Baltimore patients with coronary artery disease who need intervention. The facility's integration with the university's cardiology training program also ensures consistent protocol updates and peer oversight.