Inside Thyme Care’s Social Work Program: Removing Barriers to Cancer Care

Summary: 

A cancer diagnosis doesn't just change a person's health — it reshapes every part of their life. From financial strain and transportation barriers to emotional distress and fragmented care systems, the obstacles that surround treatment can be just as challenging as the treatment itself. Research consistently shows that anxiety, depression, and financial toxicity are among the most common and least addressed barriers in oncology care.

Thyme Care's integrated social work model is changing that. Led by Director of Social Work Stephanie Broussard, DSW, LCSW-S, APHSW-C, the program embeds licensed social workers, behavioral health specialists, and care navigators directly into the oncology care team — screening proactively for distress, coordinating across providers, and addressing the practical and emotional needs that clinical teams often don't have the capacity to reach. The result is a whole-person approach to cancer care that supports better treatment adherence, reduces distress, and helps individuals and families navigate one of the most difficult experiences of their lives.

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Cancer care continues to evolve as treatments grow more personalized and survival rates improve. Yet the lived experience for many people remains overwhelming. Beyond clinical decisions, individuals face cascading challenges that affect their ability to stay on treatment: rising household costs, frequent medical appointments, transportation barriers, and the emotional shock that accompanies a diagnosis. In fact, research shows people with cancer face higher rates of anxiety and depression than the general population, and financial strain remains a primary driver of delayed or missed care.

Those pressures often intensify in the first weeks after diagnosis. Families must absorb complex medical information, understand insurance rules, and manage daily life responsibilities that do not pause for treatment. For many, it is not the clinical regimen that becomes the biggest obstacle, but everything that surrounds it.

That reality is shaping a shift toward whole-person cancer care, a model that integrates clinical support with behavioral health, navigation, and social work. Thyme Care, a value-based oncology organization that partners with health plans and providers, has developed a specialized social work program designed to address the emotional, practical, and systemic barriers that complicate cancer care for individuals and their families.

A Whole-Person Approach Rooted in Social Work

Leading this initiative is Director of Social Work Stephanie Broussard, DSW, LCSW-S, APHSW-C, whose mandate extends beyond direct patient support to shaping how the organization identifies and addresses barriers to care.

“My role is to help our organization understand and support the parts of a person’s life that matter most outside of their physical diagnosis,” Broussard said.

Her team includes licensed social workers, behavioral health specialists, and advanced practice clinicians who collaborate with oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, care partners, and medical directors. Together, they support a range of needs that can shape a person’s ability to follow a care plan, including emotional distress, financial instability, food insecurity, transportation challenges, and caregiving strain.

Addressing Barriers Before They Become Crises

Rather than waiting for patients to self-report concerns, Thyme Care uses systematic distress screening to identify and address issues early in a patient’s cancer journey.

“People minimize distress because they do not want to burden their care team, or they assume their symptoms are normal,” Broussard said. “Cancer comes with significant symptom burden. Many patients will not call their provider because they are worried about being a bother. Our proactive screening catches issues early, before they become emergencies.”

Thyme Care uses evidence-based tools aligned with national standards, including the NCCN Distress Thermometer and Problem List. According to the NCCN Guidelines for Patients, distress screening is a standard of care that should occur routinely throughout cancer treatment. The NCCN defines distress as an unpleasant experience of a mental, physical, social, or spiritual nature that can affect how patients think, feel, and act. This underscores the value of comprehensive screening as an essential tool for identifying intervention points early in the care journey.

The care team also uses PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 depression screenings and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale when necessary. Each symptom area is linked to a clinical playbook that outlines required assessments, education, follow-up frequency, and escalation pathways.

“We do not wait for people to call us. We screen proactively and follow evidence-based playbooks,” Broussard said.

The Emotional and Practical Weight of a Diagnosis

The first month after diagnosis is often the most disorienting. Families manage insurance questions, work schedules, transportation, and child care while trying to understand a new medical language. These pressures can be more destabilizing for people who already face economic insecurity.

“To be broke is stressful. Navigating cancer while navigating life is overwhelming,” Broussard said.

Broussard’s team steps in early to address the realities that many individuals are hesitant to share. This can include connecting someone to local transportation services, identifying food delivery options, guiding applications for benefits, or coordinating with family members who may need support in their caregiver roles.

Coordinating Care Across a Fragmented System

Cancer care often requires multiple specialists and regularly scheduled imaging, labs, and treatments. Gaps in communication between teams can further complicate care plans or leave families feeling unsure about who to call in moments of uncertainty.

“Good coordination means everyone knows what is happening, and someone is quarterbacking the plan,” Broussard said.

Another core function of Thyme Care’s model is to act as a connective layer between oncologists, primary care providers, specialists, and payers. The social work team ensures practical and emotional needs are incorporated into clinical planning and that families have a consistent point of contact when questions arise between appointments.

Why Social Work Should Be Part of Standard Cancer Care

Social work is not uniformly required within oncology settings, despite strong evidence that integrated psychosocial support improves outcomes. Studies show early involvement by oncology social workers can reduce distress, improve treatment adherence, and enhance quality of life.

Broussard believes in this intervention as a positive shift toward treating all parts of a cancer patient’s life. “Research shows patients have better outcomes when they have access to social work. It should not be optional,” she said. “Social work improves adjustment, reduces distress, supports families, and addresses the practical barriers that interfere with treatment.”

Whole-person cancer care is gaining momentum as health plans and providers look for approaches that improve experience and outcomes across diverse populations. Thyme Care’s integrated social work model reflects a broader shift in oncology toward proactive, coordinated, and emotionally informed support that acknowledges every aspect of a person’s life.

As Broussard noted, the goal is not just to ease suffering during treatment but to create an environment where people feel seen, supported, and equipped to navigate the full cancer journey.

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