Leading the Industry in Pulmonary Care
Helping patients with acute and chronic lung conditions breathe easier
ABOUT SBPA
Our mission at Santa Barbara Pulmonary Associates is to provide comprehensive state of the art pulmonary care to the Central Coast communities and beyond. We are committed to improving the health of our patients with acute and chronic lung disease through exceptional and compassionate care. Our physicians are board certified in pulmonary and critical care medicine and have special expertise in the care of patients with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary vascular disease, COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, asbestos related lung disease and lung cancer. We strive to build strong partnerships built on trust and respect with our patients while collaborating with their other health care providers so that care is personalized and treatments are as effective as possible.
Outpatient Services and Advanced Pulmonary Diagnostics
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Comprehensive pulmonary consultation
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Complete pulmonary function testing
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Arterial blood gases
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Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
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Exercise induced bronchoconstriction testing
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Six-minute walk tests
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Oxygen titration studies
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High altitude simulation tests
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Airway Clearance teaching and review
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Shunt studies
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State-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopies including use of ultrasound technology and robotic navigational bronchoscopy
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Placement of endobronchial valves for the treatment of emphysema and bronchopleural fistula
Inpatient Services
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Santa Barbara Pulmonary Associates provides inpatient pulmonary and critical care consultation at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Virtual Visit/Telemedicine Program
Santa Barbara Pulmonary Associates, in the setting of COVID-19, has built a robust virtual visit program through a robust platform using Zoom through Elation, our Electronic Health Record. This is an excellent HIPAA compliant platform that enables private video and audio communication between patients and their physicians.
Virtual visits allow convenient appointments as well as ease of scheduling and safety to our patients. Most importantly, they allow us to stay connected with our patients and their loved ones, especially during this period when patients are feeling isolated as a result of the pandemic.
Please contact our office if you are interested in learning more about virtual visits. If accessing appropriate virtual visit technology is difficult, please discuss any issues you are encountering with our office staff, who are available to assist you. Telephone visits are also now possible. Virtual visits and telephone visits are now being reimbursed by most government and commercial insurance plans.
VIRTUAL VISIT INSTRUCTIONS
OUR DOCTORS
ROBERT S. WRIGHT, MD, FACP, FCCP, FRCP (C)
Dr. Wright graduated from Occidental College with a B.A. in Chemistry and he received his medical degree from the University of Southern California. He completed his training as a Medical Intern, Resident and Chief Resident in Internal Medicine at the UCLA Center for the Health Sciences and subsequently as a Fellow in Nephrology at UCLA. He practiced nephrology for four years in Santa Barbara and completed further training as a Fellow in Pulmonary Medicine at the UCLA Center for the Health Sciences. He returned to Santa Barbara in 1990. He is board certified in Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care Medicine, Nephrology and Internal Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the American College of Physicians. Read More>
RICHARD A. BELKIN, MD, MSCE, FCCP
Dr. Belkin has practiced Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in Santa Barbara since 2004. Dr. Belkin thoroughly enjoys the practice of both outpatient and inpatient pulmonary and critical care medicine, with a special interest and expertise in the care of cystic fibrosis (CF) and bronchiectasis patients. He strives to provide comprehensive personalized care with a holistic approach with excellence, integrity and compassion in the care of his patients. He grew up in West Chester, Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia). He completed his undergraduate work in biology at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, graduating cum laude in 1993. He obtained his medical degree (M.D.) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1997 where he was awarded the Gates Pharmaceutical Outstanding Student Award. Read More>
Nayan Patel MD, MBA
Dr Nayan Patel is the newest addition to the Santa Barbara Pulmonary Associates team, joining the practice in 2023. A Toronto, Ontario native, Dr Patel is a fierce Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Bills fan. As a teenager he relocated to upstate New York to complete his post-secondary education as part of an 8-year combined undergraduate, business, and medical degree program at Union College and Albany Medical College. He graduated magna cum laude from Union College, majoring in economics and chemistry. For his MBA in healthcare management, his focus was the delivery of high-quality cost-effective medical care. He graduated with honors from Albany Medical College, having been elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Society his senior year. Read More>
DIRECTIONS
Conveniently located across the street from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Room. The office is on the second floor of the Cottage Outpatient Surgery building.
Parking available on the ground floor and the underground garage. Wheelchair accessible. Elevator access to our second floor office.
