Ever feel like some of your residents with COPD are constantly in and out of the emergency room? You’re not imagining it—and there may finally be something new to help. Recent breakthroughs in new COPD treatment and diagnosis strategies were presented at this year’s American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference, and they’re worth paying attention to.

One of the most exciting updates was a new diagnostic “schema” for identifying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As reported in the JAMA Network, this approach combines spirometry, symptoms, and imaging to go beyond what we’re currently using. According to Dr. Surya P. Bhatt from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, this multidimensional method may catch cases that would otherwise go undiagnosed.

That wasn’t the only update. The ATS conference also highlighted the approval of a new inhalant medication—Mepolizumab. In the MATINEE study, this drug significantly reduced exacerbations in patients with an eosinophilic phenotype, even when they were already on optimal triple inhaler therapy. As Dr. Arianne K. Baldomero of the University of Minnesota put it, the trial showed how adding Mepolizumab can provide extra protection for high-risk patients.

Now, let’s bring this back to your residents. How many of them have COPD noted in their charts? How many end up in the ER repeatedly for flare-ups? The ATS session on Mepolizumab reported a 32% reduction in emergency department visits and hospital stays. That’s a meaningful number when you think about the stress and health risks that come with every transfer.

It might be time to sit down with your medical director or attending physicians and ask: Are we doing everything we can for our residents with COPD? This new wave of research may give you a chance to prevent hospitalizations, reduce exacerbations, and improve quality of life for the people who call your community home. New COPD treatment and diagnosis strategies could change the game—and your residents deserve every advantage.

Stay well and stay informed!