FAQ’s for Partners
Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions that healthcare providers, employers, consultants and health plans ask. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to us at the link at the bottom of the page. Our team is here to help.
FAQ for Employers and Consultants
What is Ardynn?
Ardynn is a private patient advocacy service you can offer as a benefit to your employees as a point solution and/or to members of your company sponsored health plans. It supports adults with cancer at any stage of their journey, i.e., diagnosis, treatment, progression, and recurrence.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual.
What does "patient treatment decision support” mean to Ardynn?
Ardynn’s patient treatment decision support elevates shared-decision-making between the individual and their medical team in a way that ensures treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual. To aid in these discussions our advocates use our parent company’s proprietary platform, Capire360. This platform personalizes outcomes data by treatment modality and in combinations.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual.
How does Ardynn work?
An Ardynn advocate is assigned to provide support to the individual, and with the individuals’ consent, their loved ones. The advocate is PACB-certified, skilled in the medical world, and deeply understands what a person with cancer, and those supporting them, are going through. They work with the individual throughout their cancer journey, for example, they can assist in gathering data from medical records, reviewing for accuracy, and verifying the staging of diseases and help identify if additional tests or screenings, such as genomic screening, might be beneficial. They provide guidance on seeking second opinions or referrals to centers of excellence where specialized care might be available.
And importantly, they can help them understand the treatment options before them, their associated side effects, and find their voice for communicating what outcomes matter most to them when it comes to making treatment decisions.
While in treatment, Ardynn advocates support those in their care by anticipating their needs, and further connecting them with the educational, medical, emotional, social, financial, as well as practical resources they need.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual.
What is the benefit of the “patient treatment decision support” Ardynn provides?
When patients are fully informed about the risks and rewards of various treatments, they tend to opt for less invasive options. This choice often leads to a significant decrease in the utilization of healthcare resources, evidenced by lower treatment costs and reduced morbidity. Consequently, there’s a notable reduction in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and the need for intensive care unit admissions, illustrating the benefits of informed decision-making in healthcare.
And importantly, they can help them understand the treatment options before them, their associated side effects, and find their voice for communicating what outcomes matter most to them when it comes to making treatment decisions.
While in treatment, Ardynn advocates support those in their care by anticipating their needs, and further connecting them with the educational, medical, emotional, social, financial, as well as practical resources they need.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual.
How often does the individual connect with their advocate?
An Ardynn advocate will be as involved as the individual wants them to be. The Ardynn member has a direct line to their advocate. There are not hard and fast rules, rather there is unwavering support as priorities for the relationship will evolve over time. Ardynn advocates know how to anticipate the needs of our members and remain available for as long as needed.
And importantly, they can help them understand the treatment options before them, their associated side effects, and find their voice for communicating what outcomes matter most to them when it comes to making treatment decisions.
While in treatment, Ardynn advocates support those in their care by anticipating their needs, and further connecting them with the educational, medical, emotional, social, financial, as well as practical resources they need.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual.
Don’t oncology practices and health plans already provide something like this?
While most healthcare systems, insurance companies, and nonprofits offer nurse navigators, care coordinators and advocates, our private advocates are different in that their responsibility is solely to the member, rather than an institution. This means our advocates provide whole person support to meet the individual’s personalized needs. They are not time constrained. They can truly focus on the member and dedicate the time needed.
And importantly, they can help them understand the treatment options before them, their associated side effects, and find their voice for communicating what outcomes matter most to them when it comes to making treatment decisions.
While in treatment, Ardynn advocates support those in their care by anticipating their needs, and further connecting them with the educational, medical, emotional, social, financial, as well as practical resources they need.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual.
How else is Ardynn different from institutional navigators and/or advocates?
Our advocates help individuals voice their goals and preferences for treatment; and for individuals with a new cancer diagnosis, the advocates utilize Capire360, a proprietary, evidence-based analytics tool to illuminate treatment outcomes for ‘people like you’, i.e., same sex, age, race, health status, cancer type and stage. Advocates discuss both this personalized data as well as side effects and tradeoffs of treatments with individuals so that they are best equipped to make decisions about their treatment. As appropriate they also help identify resources for second opinions and clinical trials.
Our advocates always encourage individuals to share the information provided to their care teams so that true shared-decision-making occurs.
And importantly, they can help them understand the treatment options before them, their associated side effects, and find their voice for communicating what outcomes matter most to them when it comes to making treatment decisions.
While in treatment, Ardynn advocates support those in their care by anticipating their needs, and further connecting them with the educational, medical, emotional, social, financial, as well as practical resources they need.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual.
Are there any other benefits to Ardynn as an employer, beyond providing excellent support for my employees and their loved ones?
After receiving their diagnosis, patients most often agree to a treatment plan recommended by their doctor without fully understanding the risks and tradeoffs of treatments, nor considering their quality of life goals and priorities. The treatment plan is sometimes mandated by insurance coverage, and the patient’s preferences are neither solicited nor considered. This scenario strays far from the gold standard of patient-centric care and shared decision-making.
We are driving a new standard of care by empowering patients to make informed healthcare decisions aligned with their goals and preferences, guided by trusted and personalized outcomes data, improving quality of life, survival, and goal attainment while minimizing treatments with limited therapeutic value.
Our advocates always encourage individuals to share the information provided to their care teams so that true shared-decision-making occurs.
And importantly, they can help them understand the treatment options before them, their associated side effects, and find their voice for communicating what outcomes matter most to them when it comes to making treatment decisions.
While in treatment, Ardynn advocates support those in their care by anticipating their needs, and further connecting them with the educational, medical, emotional, social, financial, as well as practical resources they need.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual.
How can I provide Ardynn as a benefit to my employees, members or patients?
Ardynn can be contracted on a per use or per member per month (PMPM) basis. Contracts can be either as an employer point solution or built into health plan offerings. Contact partnerservices@ardynn.com to meet with a representative.
We are driving a new standard of care by empowering patients to make informed healthcare decisions aligned with their goals and preferences, guided by trusted and personalized outcomes data, improving quality of life, survival, and goal attainment while minimizing treatments with limited therapeutic value.
Our advocates always encourage individuals to share the information provided to their care teams so that true shared-decision-making occurs.
And importantly, they can help them understand the treatment options before them, their associated side effects, and find their voice for communicating what outcomes matter most to them when it comes to making treatment decisions.
While in treatment, Ardynn advocates support those in their care by anticipating their needs, and further connecting them with the educational, medical, emotional, social, financial, as well as practical resources they need.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual.
FAQ for Health Plans
What is Ardynn?
Ardynn is a private patient advocacy service you can offer as a benefit to your members. It supports adults with cancer at any stage of their journey, i.e., diagnosis, treatment, progression, and recurrence. Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet their goals and preferences for care.
What does "patient treatment decision support” mean to Ardynn?
Ardynn’s treatment decision support enhances shared decision-making between individuals and their medical teams, ensuring treatment plans align with personal goals and preferences. Using our parent company’s proprietary platform, Capire360, advocates provide personalized outcomes data by treatment modality and combinations. Through compassionate discussions on prognosis, treatment side effects, and quality of life impacts, members gain clarity on what matters most. The advocate then prepares a shared decision-making report for the member to share with their care te
How does Ardynn work?
An Ardynn advocate is assigned to support the member—and, with their consent, their loved ones—throughout their cancer journey. PACB-certified and experienced in the medical field, the advocate understands the challenges faced by individuals with cancer and their support system.
Beyond treatment decision support, they can advocate assisting with medical record review, ensuring accuracy, verifying disease staging, and identifying potential benefits of additional tests, such as genomic screening. During treatment, they proactively anticipate the member’s needs, connecting them with essential educational, medical, emotional, social, financial, and practical resources. When appropriate, they also facilitate referrals to the member’s health plan for additional support.
What is the benefit of the “patient treatment decision support” Ardynn provides?
When patients are fully informed about the risks and rewards of various treatments, they tend to opt for less invasive options. This choice often leads to a significant decrease in the utilization of healthcare resources, evidenced by lower treatment costs and reduced morbidity. Consequently, there’s a notable reduction in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and the need for intensive care unit admissions, illustrating the benefits of informed decision-making in healthcare.
How often does the individual connect with their advocate?
An Ardynn advocate will be as involved as the individual wants them to be. The Ardynn member has a direct line to their advocate. There are not hard and fast rules, rather there is unwavering support as priorities for the relationship will evolve over time. Ardynn advocates know how to anticipate the needs of our members and remain available for as long as needed.
Don’t oncology practices already provide something like this?
While most healthcare systems offer nurse navigators, care coordinators and advocates, our private advocates are different in that their responsibility is solely to the member, rather than an institution. Our advocates are not time constrained. They can truly focus on the member and dedicate the time needed.
Why should a Health Plan invest in Ardynn?
Most often, after receiving a diagnosis, members agree to a treatment plan recommended by their doctor without fully understanding the risks and tradeoffs of treatments, nor considering their quality of life goals and priorities. This scenario strays far from the gold standard of patient-centric care and shared decision-making.
Members appreciate that Ardynn is a private service. We provide a safe, private, and compassionate space for individuals to really process what is most important to them.
We are driving a new standard of care by empowering patients to make informed healthcare decisions aligned with their goals and preferences, guided by trusted and personalized outcomes data, improving quality of life, survival, and goal attainment while minimizing treatments with limited therapeutic value.
How can I provide Ardynn as a benefit to my members?
Ardynn can be contracted on a per use or per member per month (PMPM) basis. Contact partnerservices@ardynn.com to meet with a representative.
FAQ for Healthcare Providers
What is Ardynn?
Ardynn is a private patient advocacy service available to any individuals 18 years or older diagnosed with cancer and/or a loved one of someone diagnosed with cancer. Ardynn supports adults with cancer at any stage of their journey, i.e., diagnosis, treatment, progression, and recurrence.
Services include patient treatment decision support that ensures individuals are well informed and that treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual
How does a patient get connected to Ardynn?
Ardynn is offered as a benefit to employees, health plan members, or to patients through their provider. It is also available on a self-pay basis.
How does Ardynn work?
An Ardynn advocate is assigned to provide support to the patient, and with patient consent, their loved ones. This advocate is PACB-certified, skilled in the medical world, and deeply understands what patients are going through, and works with the patient throughout their cancer journey. They’ll help them understand their diagnosis, the treatment options before them, associated side effects of treatment, and connect them with the educational, medical, emotional, social, financial, and practical resources they need.
What does “patient treatment decision support” mean to Ardynn?
Ardynn’s patient treatment decision support elevates shared-decision-making between the individual and their medical team in a way that ensures treatment plans meet the goals and preferences of the individual. To aid in these discussions our advocates use our parent company’s proprietary platform, Capire360. This platform personalizes outcomes data by treatment modality and in combinations.
What treatment modalities are included in Capire360?
Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy
How is the data “personalized” to the patient?
Capire360 outputs shown the patient are for patients like them, meaning of same age, sex, race, health status, with the same type and stage of cancer
How do you decide what treatment options to show for each case?
All the treatment options included in Capire360 are based on guideline treatments.
Do you make drug/treatment recommendations?
No, we do not provide clinical recommendations. Determining specific medications or treatments is a clinical decision that should be made by your physician and approved by your insurance company. Our role is to enhance your medical literacy and supply personalized, reliable information, allowing you and your caregivers to engage in more informed and meaningful discussions with your clinical team. We do not provide clinical guidance.
Are specific drugs included in your Capire360 platform?
No, our cancer models do not recommend specific drugs or treatments. Instead, they analyze treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, or hormone therapy. The chemotherapy guidelines detail specific drugs and combinations tailored to cancer characteristics such as grade, tumor markers, and genetic testing. Since our models measure outcomes based on these guideline treatments, which the majority of patients receive, they provide insights into how effective these standard approaches and their associated drugs are in real-world scenarios.
Where does the Capire360 data come from?
Estimates are derived from millions of cases from 500+ hospitals and cancer treatment centers, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, as well as physician and other outpatient offices. Collection and reporting standards are in accordance with the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR); Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI); and the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).
How are Capire360 survival estimates calculated?
Estimates are derived using Cox proportional-hazards models (Cox, 1972), a regression model commonly used in medical research for investigating the association between the survival time of patients and one or more predictor variables. Survival models relate the time that passes, before some event occurs, to one or more covariates that may be associated with that quantity of time. In a proportional hazards model, the unique effect of a unit increase in a covariate is multiplicative with respect to the hazard rate.
Do the Capire360 estimates pull from clinical trial information?
The estimates we provide do not directly utilize outcomes information from clinical trials. This is because clinical trials often have narrow recruitment criteria, which typically exclude individuals with additional health conditions and do not adequately represent diversity in terms of sex, age, and race. Only about 4% of adult cancer patients participate in such trials. However, while we don’t explicitly reference trial outcomes in our models, the participants from these trials are indeed part of the broader data set we analyze.
Has Capire360 been validated by a third-party institution or similar?
Yes, PotentiaMetrics, the company who created Capire360, spent a decade developing and testing Capire360 within top medical schools. The statistical models that power Capire360 are tested internally and externally, ensuring they accurately reflect survival outcomes.
Experts in healthcare analytics from the Erasmus University Medical Center, one of the world’s top programs in medical decision-making and prognostic modeling, have validated the models and their methodology. Capire360 is also continuously reviewed by oncologists and compared to data from the national databases to ensure accuracy and confirm clinical value.
What is the benefit of the “patient treatment decision support” Ardynn provides?
When patients are fully informed about the risks and rewards of various treatments, they tend to opt for less invasive options. This choice often leads to a significant decrease in the utilization of healthcare resources, evidenced by lower treatment costs and reduced morbidity. Consequently, there’s a notable reduction in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and the need for intensive care unit admissions, illustrating the benefits of informed decision-making in healthcare.
What cancer sites are included in the Capire360 platform?
Capire360 has models to support the following solid tumor cancer sites:
- Breast
- Prostate
- Colon
- Lung
- Rectum
- Cervix
- Ovary
- Uterus
- Stomach
- Liver
- Bladder
- Kidney
- Head and Neck
- Thyroid
- Pancreas
These are the most common solid tumor cancer sites and represent over 80% of all adult patients with cancer.
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