Robert DiBianco, MD, FACC in Baltimore: Interventional Cardiologist at Mercy Medical Center

Robert DiBianco practices interventional cardiology at Mercy Medical Center on the Near North Side, focusing on catheter-based treatment of coronary artery disease and structural heart conditions rather than medication management alone.

What He Actually Does

DiBianco holds board certification in internal medicine and cardiology, with added certification in interventional cardiology (reflected by his FACC designation from the American College of Cardiology). His work centers on procedures: coronary angiography to visualize blockages, angioplasty and stent placement to restore blood flow, and structural repairs. He treats patients with acute heart attacks, stable angina, and structural conditions like atrial septal defects. He operates within Mercy Medical Center's cardiac catheterization laboratory, which means patients undergoing his procedures receive hospital-level monitoring and support rather than office-based care.

Procedures and What They Cost

Common interventional procedures DiBianco performs include:

Diagnostic coronary angiography typically costs $3,000 to $6,000 before insurance, though prices vary by facility and whether additional imaging or intervention occurs. Percutaneous coronary intervention (angioplasty with stent placement) ranges from $15,000 to $30,000 before insurance. These figures reflect facility fees, physician fees, and device costs bundled together; insurance copays and out-of-pocket responsibility depend entirely on individual plan design.

Mercy Medical Center is part of the Bon Secours Mercy Health system. If your insurance plan includes Mercy in its network, you pay in-network rates; out-of-network status can double or triple costs. Call your insurance company before scheduling any procedure to clarify coverage and your estimated responsibility.

How DiBianco Fits into Baltimore's Cardiology Landscape

Baltimore hosts multiple interventional cardiologists across hospital systems. At University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins, interventional programs also serve the region. DiBianco's positioning at Mercy on North Avenue makes him geographically accessible to residents on the city's north side and those already established in the Mercy system. If your primary care doctor works within Bon Secours Mercy Health, a referral to DiBianco typically requires no network navigation. If you use Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland as your primary system, your cardiologist there may refer you internally rather than to an outside interventionalist, which simplifies follow-up coordination.

The difference matters operationally: interventions performed at the hospital where your ongoing cardiology care happens reduce logistical friction for imaging, follow-up tests, and medication management. If you have no established system preference, DiBianco at Mercy is a reasonable entry point; if you are already receiving care at Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland, asking whether your current cardiologist performs interventions in-house before seeking an external referral saves time.

Who Should See Him and Who Should Not

DiBianco is appropriate for patients with suspected or confirmed coronary blockages, previous heart attacks or stents requiring follow-up intervention, and structural heart conditions amenable to catheter repair. You need a referral from a primary care physician or cardiologist; interventional cardiologists do not perform intake evaluations for asymptomatic patients seeking screening or general cardiac management.

Patients managing stable coronary disease with medications alone typically see a general cardiologist rather than an interventionalist. Similarly, patients with congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or valve disease managed medically do not require interventional expertise unless a structural repair becomes indicated.

What a First Intervention Involves

If your cardiologist refers you to DiBianco for coronary angiography or intervention, Mercy will schedule a pre-procedure appointment to review your medications, allergies, and baseline health status. You receive instructions to fast for 6 to 8 hours before the procedure.

On the procedure day, you arrive at Mercy's catheterization lab 1 to 2 hours early. Nursing staff places an IV, administers mild sedation, and shaves and prepares the site (typically the groin or wrist). DiBianco accesses an artery using a small catheter, advances it to your heart under real-time fluoroscopic guidance, injects contrast dye to visualize blockages, and performs intervention (stent placement, balloon angioplasty) if indicated. The procedure lasts 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on complexity. You stay in recovery for 4 to 6 hours, then typically go home if no complications occur. Your cardiologist sees you in follow-up within 1 to 4 weeks.

Hours, Location, and Parking

DiBianco practices at Mercy Medical Center, 301 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. The hospital operates a 24-hour emergency department and scheduled catheterization laboratory during business hours (typically 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for elective procedures, with urgent cases 24/7). Emergency catheterization for heart attack treatment is always available.

Mercy operates a parking garage on-site; daily rates run around $10 to $15. Verify current hours and parking fees by calling Mercy Medical Center's main line or checking the Bon Secours Mercy Health website.

DiBianco holds credentials and experience that qualify him to handle both routine coronary disease and urgent intervention, making him a reliable choice for Baltimore residents within the Mercy system or those seeking a north-side interventional cardiologist.