Opinion: How STAT decided to keep ‘health care’ as two words

STAT decided to maintain 'health care' as two separate words on April 16, 2024, diverging from the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook's updated guidance. The AP Stylebook officially changed its recommendation to use 'healthcare' as a single word, a decision that was met with applause at the ACES conference. Sarah Mupo, STAT's director of editorial operations, stated on the "First Opinion Podcast" that the publication chose to retain its established style, which has been 'health care' for many years. This decision reflects a deliberate editorial choice by STAT to preserve its distinct voice and adherence to traditional terminology within medical journalism. The AP's shift to 'healthcare' as one word marks a significant alteration to a long-standing convention in journalistic writing, impacting how health-related topics are presented across numerous publications.