Pros: Careverge is a free and easy to use online portal for all things health related. Users connect with other community members and can interact anonymously about their health conditions under a pseudonym. Careverge keeps things fun by including challenges and games with which users can participate.

Cons: Taking health care advice from a community board is ill-advisable and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a physician. Due to the large scope of the website, it can be difficult to navigate at times.

The Bottomline: Careverge is a good way to get individuals more interested in their health. They can connect with others who share similar health problems or challenge friends to fitness contests. However, the program should only be used as a tool in the overall management of a person’s healthcare.

Editor’s Rating:

Reviewed on January 14, 2012

Summary:
Careverge creates a customized profile based on answers to series of questions. Users can store vital health information, create fitness goals and set important health reminders like taking medications.



Features:
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Recommended Reading Materials
Online searches can garner large amounts of material. Careverge sifts through the web to offer up information from reliable sources. Health articles and videos are recommended to users based on their current health statuses and interests.

Goal Tracker
Users who have a certain health goal can track their progress through Careverge. Track your progress on a graph and share your goals with other Careverge members. Use graphs to enter into fitness challenges with other members.



Community Forums
The aim of Careverge is to become a social networking site for health conscious individuals. Besides other users, health and wellness professionals visit the forum to exchange information about medical concerns.

Reminders
Even if a user doesn’t log on Careverge, he can still receive reminders via email and text message. Reminders may include an alert to take medication, a prompt to go to the gym or a reminder of an upcoming doctor’s appointment.

Health Evaluations
Based on user answers, Careverge can gauge a person’s current health status. Weight and height can be entered to determine if the individuals falls in a healthy range. A risk assessment also advises of what activities are potentially compromising a person’s health.

High Level of Security
One of the standout features is the program meets all HIPAA compliancy standards. This ensures all user data entered into the online portal is secure and the person’s identity not compromised.

Insurance Deductions
Insurance companies have the option of referring their customers to Careverge. In exchange for using the program and making a pledge to take better care of their health, users may be offered discounts from their insurance providers.

Real Prizes
The games available on Careverge were created to influence people to make smart health decisions. When positive health choices are made, users are rewarded with coins, gems and badges. The rewards can be exchanged for actual prizes such as workout gear and medical devices.