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1155 Mercer Street, Princeton, WV 24740 Call us: (304) 431-7000
Insurance

Pulmonary medicine for southern West Virginia

The Lung Center is the pulmonary practice of Vishnu Patel, MD, FCCP, FASM — board certified in pulmonary disease, critical care and internal medicine, and in practice in Princeton for more than thirty years. If your breathing has changed and you don't know why, that is reason enough to be seen.

Complete pulmonary function testing, spirometry, oxygen testing and arterial blood gas measurement are done here in the office. When a patient needs to be in the hospital, Dr. Patel cares for them at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital, Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, and Welch Community Hospital.

Coal miners and dust-exposed workers

We evaluate coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung), asbestosis and other dust-related lung disease with breathing tests and imaging, and the office can tell you what documentation is needed if you are pursuing a claim.

Lung Center at a glance

Physician
Vishnu Patel, MD, FCCP, FASM — board certified in pulmonary disease, critical care and internal medicine
In the office
Pulmonary function tests · Spirometry · Oxygen & blood gas testing
Procedures
Bronchoscopy
Hospitals
Princeton Community · Raleigh General · Welch Community
Entrance
The glass door next to the solid red door, under The Lung Center awning — check in at the front desk window

Conditions we treat

Ask the office whether your plan needs a referral — many don't.

Asthma

Difficult-to-control and adult-onset asthma, inhaler technique, biologic therapy.

COPD & emphysema

Staging, inhaler regimens, flare-up action plans, oxygen and rehab referral.

Chronic bronchitis & cough

A cough that has lasted more than eight weeks, and airways that stay inflamed.

Pneumonia & infections

Infections that won't clear, recurrent pneumonia, and post-infection recovery.

Shortness of breath & low oxygen

Finding the cause when breathing is harder than it should be.

Lung nodules

Follow-up of spots found on imaging, and biopsy when one needs a closer look.

Pulmonary fibrosis & ILD

High-resolution CT review, antifibrotic therapy, transplant referral.

Black lung & dust exposure

Coal workers' pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, and breathing problems that started at work.

Bronchiectasis

Airway clearance plans, recurrent infection, nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Pulmonary embolism

Blood clots in the lung — evaluation, anticoagulation and follow-up.

Quitting tobacco

Medication, counseling and follow-up built into your regular visits.

Testing in the office

  • Complete pulmonary function tests — how much air you move, how fast, and how well oxygen crosses into your blood
  • Spirometry before and after an inhaler
  • Oxygen measurement at rest and walking
  • Arterial blood gas — to qualify you for home oxygen and set the right flow

Procedures

  • Bronchoscopy — a camera passed into the airways to biopsy a nodule, sample an infection, or find the cause of bleeding

Sleep apnea often travels with lung disease. If Dr. Patel suspects it, testing is next door at our sleep center.