FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
The basics
Is Ternary Health a medical practice?
No. Ternary Health is a private medical-research firm run by two data scientists. We do not diagnose, prescribe, treat, or replace your physicians. Our work is educational and planning-oriented, designed to be used alongside licensed clinicians.
Who is this for?
People navigating rare, chronic, or medically complex conditions — especially cases that have been running for years without an integrated answer. Our featured conditions include Madelung's Disease, Dercum's Disease, Spinal CSF Leak, and MCAS, but our service is designed for many difficult-to-solve problems.
What does a Precision Deep Dive actually include?
A full review of your records, labs, and imaging; optional integration of genomic data; literature mapping; identification of relevant specialists and tests; a written, prioritized action plan; and follow-up support through the first implementation cycle. See the full sample report for the shape of the deliverable.
How long does an engagement take?
A Precision Deep Dive typically runs two to four weeks from intake to final plan, plus 30 days of execution support. See the nine-stage workflow for the per-stage breakdown.
Will you replace my doctors?
No, and we wouldn't want to. The goal is to make you a more informed, organized, and effective partner for your physicians — to give them a better starting point, not to take over their role.
What if you don't think you can help my case?
We'll tell you. We only take on engagements where we believe we can meaningfully advance the situation. If we can't, we'll say so, and where possible point you toward alternatives.
The Ternary Method
What does Evidence × Personalization × Action mean?
Every intervention we consider is rated 0–10 on three independent axes. Evidence — does the literature support it for your condition and context? Personalization — does it fit your biology, genetics, comorbidities, and preferences? Action — can you actually do it given your access, finances, and life? The composite is a score out of 30. Full detail on the Method page.
What's the difference between Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 recommendations?
Composite scores of 25 or higher become Tier 1 core recommendations — what your plan is built around. Scores 18–24 become Tier 2 secondary options worth discussing with your physicians. Scores under 18 become Tier 3 discussion items — on our radar but not default recommendations.
Is the method the same for every condition?
The framework is the same. What changes per condition is the content at each stage — the records we pull, the signals we apply from our Signal Library, the specialists we map, the pathways we evaluate. Every condition page shows this applied to that specific condition.
Can I see how the method scored a specific intervention?
Yes — the sample report includes Section 06 “Intervention prioritization — Ternary Method applied,” which shows six interventions scored on all three axes with the rationale for each score.
The data foundation
What is the Case Library?
A structured database of every engagement, with each client becoming a row with hundreds of fields — symptoms coded to a controlled vocabulary, labs normalized, genetic variants flagged. It exists so pattern recognition accumulates across engagements instead of being lost at the end of each one.
Are my data and results shared with other clients?
No. Source records stay with the engagement that produced them. Patterns learned across engagements are aggregated and de-identified in the Case Library — no individual case details are ever shared across client engagements.
Do you use my data to train public AI models?
No. Client records are never used to train public AI models, nor to advertise or market to third parties. See our Security & Data Practices page for the full list of what we do not do with client information.
How do you keep the Signal Dictionary current?
Every engagement triggers a literature refresh for the relevant condition, and that refresh updates the Evidence Matrix and Signal Dictionary. Signals can be added, re-weighted, or retired as the evidence evolves. The dictionary is version-controlled internally.
Pricing & access
Is this covered by insurance?
No. Ternary Health is a private research firm. Clients invest out-of-pocket, as they would for any specialized research or advisory engagement.
Why are your prices published?
Published pricing is a trust signal. Most premium concierge advisories hide pricing behind a 'contact us for a quote' wall. We don't. You know the price before you apply.
What determines whether I apply for Deep Dive, Advisory, or Passport?
Start with the Precision Deep Dive ($6,500) unless you have two household members each navigating complex cases (Passport) or you have already had a Deep Dive and want structured continuation (Advisory). We'll confirm the right fit after reviewing your application.
How do I get started?
Apply through our application form. We review every submission personally and respond within three business days.
Genomics, labs, and records
Do you handle genomic data?
Yes, optionally. If you have a genome export — from a clinical sequencing service or a consumer provider (23andMe, AncestryDNA) — we can integrate variant-level signals into the analysis. We can also guide you toward an appropriate provider if you don't have data yet.
Can you work with Function Health or Fountain Life panels I've already done?
Yes — we treat those results as ingredients, not as things we need to replicate. If you've already invested in a comprehensive panel, bring it. We don't re-do what you've done.
What if I don't have recent imaging or labs?
Part of our Stage 5 workup recommendation is identifying what imaging or labs would meaningfully advance the case. Missing data is not a disqualifier; it's part of the map we build.
Privacy, security & HIPAA
Are you HIPAA compliant?
HIPAA applies to covered entities — health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and providers who transmit health information electronically for specific covered transactions. Ternary Health is none of those, so HIPAA does not legally apply to us. What we do claim is that we maintain HIPAA-aligned practices — HIPAA-grade encryption, access discipline, and data handling. Full detail on our Security & Data Practices page.
What happens to my data after an engagement ends?
Four different retention standards apply: application data (12 months), engagement records (7 years, aligned with HIPAA retention), security and compliance logs (7 years), and de-identified aggregates (indefinite). Detail in the Privacy Policy, Section 7.
Do you store my medical records?
During an active engagement, records are stored in encrypted form under access controls described in our Security page. After the engagement, handling follows the retention schedule above and the terms of the signed engagement letter.
Who has access to my information?
At the application stage: the firm's principals (Beau Giannini, PhD and Pavel Paramonov, PhD). After acceptance: the principals and a small number of named analysts under written confidentiality obligations. No vendor, marketing provider, or analytics platform has access.
What if there's a data breach?
We have a documented incident-response runbook that includes containment, scope assessment, and notification procedures under FTC Health Breach Notification Rule and applicable state laws. Affected individuals are notified promptly with a full account of what happened and what we are doing about it.