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When breathing feels hard, everything feels hard.

Walking across a room, climbing stairs, even getting a full night’s sleep can become a struggle. For many people in Globe–Miami and the surrounding communities, lung and heart conditions shape everyday life.

At Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center, our Cardiopulmonary Department is here to change that—by offering advanced testing and treatment close to home, without the hassle of travel.

We sat down with Cardiopulmonary Manager Joshua Wilshusen, BS, RRT-CPFT, to explore what his department does, how these services support local providers, and why more patients can confidently stay in Globe for the testing they need.

Think of the Cardiopulmonary Department as the hospital’s “heart and lungs hub.” On any given day, Joshua and his team are performing:

• Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) for full lung diagnostics
• Stress tests for the heart
• Holter monitors (24-hour to two-week rhythm monitoring)
• Event monitors
• Sleep studies
• Outpatient EKGs
• Breath alcohol testing
• Outpatient breathing treatments and airway therapies

“We do full pulmonary function tests for complete lung diagnosis,” Joshua explained. “We’re pretty robust in how we do them, and we have physician reads on top of that.”

Those physician reads are a key piece. A physician interprets every study and provides a complete report, which is then sent back to the patient’s provider or pulmonologist.

“If a provider refers a patient to a pulmonologist, we can complete the PFT here and fax the full report directly to them.”

In other words: the advanced testing that specialists rely on can often be done right here at CVRMC.

“It’s a very effective way to diagnose lung disease,” he shared. “The test generates numbers that tell us exactly what’s going on and how severe it is.”

Those numbers help determine whether more imaging or a pulmonology referral is needed and guide providers toward the right treatment plan.

For many rural residents, traveling to the Valley for diagnostics can be difficult. That’s why CVRMC has invested in a full pulmonary function lab and expanded cardiopulmonary services.

One of the biggest advantages? Short wait times.

“Patients can often get a full PFT as soon as the next day,” Joshua said. “We have physician reads and very quick turnaround times. Compared to the Valley, we’re faster and more efficient.”

This means quicker answers, quicker treatment decisions, and less disruption to daily life—something that matters deeply when breathing issues are affecting work, activity, and overall wellbeing.

Across the board, patients often comment on how efficiently the department moves—another big benefit of keeping care local.

Respiratory therapists play a critical role in emergencies. Joshua explained that his team is often among the first to respond when a patient arrives in respiratory distress. They assist with intubations, initiate BiPAP and high-flow oxygen, provide aggressive bronchodilator therapy, and monitor patients closely to prevent respiratory failure whenever possible.

Every therapist on the team is trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and works side-by-side with emergency and ICU staff. Their goal is to stabilize patients using the least invasive effective method and escalate only when absolutely necessary.

Many people worry that respiratory medications or treatments will harm them long-term or make them dependent on inhalers. Joshua sees these fears often—but pulmonary function testing helps address them with real, measurable data.

Sometimes lung function improves dramatically after bronchodilators; sometimes it doesn’t change at all. Either way, the test provides clarity.

“My advice is: come in with an open mind and let the numbers do the talking,” Joshua said. “The tests either confirm the need for medication or show that it isn’t necessary.”

“We’re not junior varsity,” Joshua said. “For the services we provide—like PFTs, EKGs, and respiratory treatments—you’re going to get care just as good as in a larger urban hospital.”

Thanks to leaders like Joshua, CVRMC offers advanced diagnostics and respiratory care that rival larger systems—without the long drive.

If you have concerns about your breathing or heart health, talk with your primary care provider about whether testing in the Cardiopulmonary Department might help. Providers can also contact the department directly for referral information.

Your lungs—and your life—deserve care that’s both advanced and local.