The first version of this post incorrectly identified Chris Schroeder as the current chairman of the Online Publishers Association. He is a past chairman.
Last week HealthCentral.com announced it had purchased Wellsphere.com. With over 35 websites, HealthCentral is the leading collection of online consumer health and wellness experiences focused on specific conditions. The two sites draw about 10 million unique visitors each month.
Wellsphere’s technology, which allows consumers to find information that is not specific to a particular disease, will allow HealthCentral to provide a richer mix of information. Contributors include medical professionals, patients, and caregivers.
HealthCentral also includes content from Harvard Health Publications and the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR). An onsite symptom checker helps visitors pinpoint what might be wrong.
HealthCentral’s content is provided by people who have dealt with serious and chronic conditions. Founder and CEO Chris Schroeder created the site when loved ones who faced serious illnesses needed information that addressed the whole person.
Schroeder has years of experience with online publications. Before founding HealthCentral, he was CEO and publisher of washingtonpost.newsweek interactive and host of washingtonpost.com and newsweek.msnbc.com. He is also co-founder and past chairman of the Online Publishers Association.
I have no idea where these developments will lead. I’m just excited about the opportunity to help more people. Stay tuned to this blog to stay abreast of upcoming changes.
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Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.
