<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-19</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001108782</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CARESCIENCE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CARE</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAY JEFFREY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>177 BROAD STREET, 15TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06901</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-19</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2577831</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnote 2</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-19</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>62117</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnote 3</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares tendered to subsidiary of Quovadx, Inc. in exchange for an amount per share of CareScience Common Stock equal to $1.40 cash and 0.1818 share of Quovadx Common Stock.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Shares owned by J. H. Whitney III, L.P. (JHW III).  The undersigned is a member of J. H. Whitney Equity Partners III, L.L.C., the general partner of JHW III, and has an interest in a limited partner of JHW III.  The undersigned may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to such shares.  The undersigned disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his proportionate interest.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Shares owned by Whitney Strategic Partners III, L.P. (WSP III).  The undersigned is a member of J. H. Whitney Equity Partners III, L.L.C., the general partner of WSP III.  The undersigned may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to such shares.  The undersigned disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his proportionate interest.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Daniel J. O'Brien, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-23</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

