The Medic Update is the informal name given to a broad Google core algorithm update that rolled out in August 2018. The name was coined by SEO consultant Barry Schwartz after analysis showed that health, medical, and wellness sites were disproportionately affected, though the update impacted many other verticals as well. Google confirmed it as a broad core update, meaning it involved adjustments to how quality signals are weighted across the board rather than targeting a specific type of spam or content violation. The update is widely interpreted as placing greater emphasis on E-A-T — Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness — particularly for Your Money or Your Life pages where poor advice could cause real-world harm. Many affected health sites recovered partially or fully following subsequent core updates in 2019 and 2020 after improving author credentials, citations, and editorial transparency.