A method for improving the behavior of classical equations of state (EOS) in the critical region, originally proposed by Fox [J.R. Fox, Fluid Phase Equilibria 14 (1983) 45-53], has been modified in this work for the Patel-Teja (PT) EOS [N.C. Patel, A.S. Teja, Chem. Eng. Sci. 37, 463-473]. The application of the new equation (NPT) for predicting PVT and vapor pressure behavior of pure substances, as well as vapor-liquid equilibrium behavior of binary mixtures, is demonstrated. The NPT equation is simple to use and requires the same input information as the original PT equation. However, it reproduces the correct PVT behavior in the critical region. Limitations of both the PT and NPT equations in calculating the isochoric heat capacity are discussed.