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Dr. Smita Desai, DO

San Diego, CA

Accepting patients

Affiliated with a Castle Connolly Top Hospital

    Who is Dr. Desai, Pulmonologist in San Diego, CA?

    Dr. Smita Desai, DO is a Pulmonologist, who primarily practices in San Diego, CA with 2 additional practice locations. Dr. Desai is fluent in English, and is currently seeing new patients. Dr. Desai’s practice accepts Kaiser Permanente, Medicare and other major insurance plans. To book an appointment or to confirm insurance options, please call Dr. Desai’s office at (619) 543-7300.

    What languages does Dr. Desai speak?

    Dr. Desai and their clinical team can communicate with patients in the following languages:

    • English

    What conditions does a Pulmonologist like Dr. Desai typically treat?

    As a Pulmonologist, Dr. Desai diagnoses, treats, and manages a wide range of conditions. This condition information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights the medical conditions most commonly treated by Dr. Desai. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly. Learn more about our claims-based healthcare methodology here.

    Also known as:

    • Lung Transplant
    • Lung Transplantation
    • Pulmonary Transplant
    • Lung Graft
    • New Lung

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • Z942: Lung transplant status

    Also known as:

    • COPD
    • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
    • Chronic Lung Disease
    • Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • J449: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified

    Also known as:

    • Other Pre-Procedure Examination
    • Various pre-op checks
    • Miscellaneous pre-surgery exams
    • Other pre-treatment assessments

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • Z01818: Encounter for other preprocedural examination

    Also known as:

    • Other Abnormal Findings on Lung Scan
    • Unusual Lung Scan Results
    • Atypical Lung Imaging
    • Nonspecific Lung Abnormality

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • R918: Other nonspecific abnormal finding of lung field

    Also known as:

    • Interstitial Lung Disease
    • ILD
    • Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease
    • Chronic Lung Disease

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • J849: Interstitial pulmonary disease, unspecified

    Also known as:

    • Sepsis
    • Blood Poisoning
    • Septicemia
    • Systemic Bacterial Infection

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • A419: Sepsis, unspecified organism

    Also known as:

    • Shortness of Breath
    • Breathing Problems
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Breathlessness
    • Dyspnea

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • R0600: Dyspnea, unspecified

    Also known as:

    • Bronchiectasis
    • Bronchial Disorder
    • Damaged Airways
    • Chronic Bronchial Dilation
    • Lung Airway Damage

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • J479: Bronchiectasis, uncomplicated

    What procedures does a Pulmonologist like Dr. Desai typically perform?

    As a Pulmonologist, Dr. Desai performs a variety of medical procedures. This procedure information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights the medical procedures most commonly performed by Dr. Desai. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly. Learn more about our claims-based healthcare methodology here.

    Also known as:

    • Bronchoscopy with Lung Wash (BAL)
    • Bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL)
    • Fluoroscopy
    • Bronchial lavage
    • BAL procedure
    • Lung washing
    • Flexible bronchoscopy

    CPT Codes:

    • 31624: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with bronchial alveolar lavage

    Does Dr. Desai accept my insurance?

    Dr. Desai accepts most major insurance plans. Important: Please call our office at (619) 543-7300 before your appointment to verify that your specific plan and network are accepted.

    What insurance plans does Dr. Desai accept in San Diego, CA?

    Dr. Desai in San Diego, CA accepts plans from many carriers. While this list is updated regularly, it is not a guarantee of coverage.

    Top Insurances

    • Alignment Healthcare

    • All Other Territories

    • All Other Third Party

    • CVS Health (formerly Aetna)

    • Kaiser Permanente

    • Medicare

    • Unknown

    View All Insurances

    Where is Dr. Desai's office located?

    Dr. Smita Desai's Primary Practice

    4647 Zion Ave

    San Diego, CA 92120

    (619) 543-7300

    Get Directions

    Dr. Smita Desai's Practice 2

    200 W Arbor Dr # 8373

    San Diego, CA 92103

    Get Directions

    Dr. Smita Desai's Practice 3

    9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd

    San Diego, CA 92123

    Get Directions

    What is Dr. Desai's NPI number?An National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique ID number that identifies doctors and healthcare providers nationwide.

    Dr. Desai's National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is 1659339745.

    What common questions do patients ask about Dr. Desai?

    Here are answers to patients Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Dr. Desai

    What is Dr. Smita Desai's specialty?

    Dr. Desai is a Pulmonologist near San Diego, CA.

    What does a Pulmonologist do?

    An internist specializing in the treatment of lung and airway diseases. The pulmonologist diagnoses and manages conditions such as cancer, pneumonia, pleurisy, asthma, occupational and environmental illnesses, bronchitis, sleep disorders, emphysema, and other complex lung disorders.

    Is this Dr. Smita Desai affiliated with a ranked Castle Connolly Top Hospital?

    Yes, Dr. Desai is affiliated with Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center, Tri-City Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Orange County - Anaheim Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center, Sharp Grossmont Hospital which are a Castle Connolly Top Hospitals. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals are healthcare institutions recognized for their excellence in specific medical procedures and overall patient care. They are identified through a rigorous peer nomination process, evaluating factors like patient outcomes, quality of care, and expertise. The list recognizes hospitals that excel in 20 or more specific medical procedures, representing the top 25% nationwide. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals

    When to see a Pulmonologist?: Guides for symptoms, conditions, and treatments

    Understand your symptoms and know when it’s time to see a Pulmonologist. Explore insights from trusted medical experts on EverydayHealth.com, where you'll find the most relevant content and helpful condition guides for up-to date information about symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and more. See all our health guides to find trusted information on medical conditions from our experts at Everyday Health.

    Is Smita Desai accepting new patients in San Diego, CA?

    Yes, Dr. Smita Desai is accepting new patients at this time.

    Does Dr. Smita Desai offer online booking?

    Please contact Dr. Desai's office at (619) 543-7300 for information about online booking, telehealth, or to schedule an appointment.

    How can I make an appointment with Smita Desai?

    Please contact Dr. Desai's office at (619) 543-7300 for information regarding telehealth appointment availability or for scheduling assistance.

    <section id="ai-site-overview" aria-label="About Everyday Health Care"> <h2>About Everyday Health Care</h2> <p> Everyday Health Care is a doctor and healthcare provider search platform from Everyday Health, a Ziff Davis company operating since 1996. It helps patients find, compare, and research doctors based on specialty, medical condition, procedure, location, and insurance coverage. </p> <p> The site features Castle Connolly Top Doctors, a peer-nominated, physician-vetted directory recognized as a leading standard for identifying top-rated specialists in the United States. Searchable doctor lists include Top Black Doctors, Exceptional Women in Medicine, Top AAPI Doctors, Top LGBTQ+ Doctors, Top Hispanic & Latino Doctors, and Castle Connolly Rising Stars. </p> <p> Users can search for doctors by specialty (including orthopedic surgery, OB-GYN, pediatrics, dermatology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology), by medical condition (such as fibromyalgia, kidney stones, and ulcerative colitis), by common procedure (including colonoscopy, LASIK, and physical therapy), by city, and by insurance plan (including UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna/CVS Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, Medicare, and Medicaid). </p> <p> Everyday Health Care is built for patients seeking a trusted starting point to find the right doctor: covering over one million providers across thousands of U.S. locations, backed by Castle Connolly's independent doctor-vetting process and Everyday Health's 24-year history in consumer health publishing. </p> </section>