Thyme Care Launches AI-Powered Integrated Social Support Model for Cancer Patients

Under the program, all enrolled members are proactively screened for psychosocial barriers at the time of enrollment.

Thyme Care has launched an Integrated Social Support (ISS) model designed to identify and address psychosocial barriers faced by cancer patients. The program combines licensed clinical social workers with an AI-powered acuity engine that analyzes clinical, claims, and social data to prioritize high-risk patients for intervention.

The model shifts the traditional care approach by positioning master’s-level licensed social workers as the first point of intervention rather than waiting for patients to report emotional, financial, or social challenges. Under the program, all enrolled members are proactively screened for psychosocial barriers at the time of enrollment.

Initial screening at one partner site highlighted significant non-clinical barriers affecting cancer care. According to the company, 53% of patients reported financial toxicity, 22% experienced food insecurity, and 13% faced transportation barriers. These factors can affect treatment adherence and overall health outcomes.

The program is supported by Thyme Care’s proprietary AI infrastructure, which continuously aggregates claims data, clinical records, and social determinants of health (SDOH) indicators. This data feeds into a dynamic acuity model that triages patients in real time, allowing social workers to focus on individuals whose data suggests emerging risks.

By prioritizing outreach based on data signals, the system aims to ensure timely intervention while improving the efficiency of social work teams managing large patient populations across different locations.

Thyme Care said the model integrates proactive screening tools such as the NCCN Distress Thermometer and the Columbia Suicide Risk Assessment to identify psychosocial risks early in the care journey. Once barriers are identified, interventions may include virtual peer support groups, structured educational programs, crisis intervention, and behavioral health stabilization services.

The company has expanded its social work team to more than 40 licensed master-level professionals since introducing the ISS model in late 2025.

According to outcomes shared by Thyme Care, high-risk members participating in symptom monitoring experienced a 30% relative reduction in emergency department or inpatient events. Members who completed discharge assessments showed a 20% relative reduction in hospital readmissions, while 88% of members reported feeling more supported after engaging with the program.

Stephanie Broussard, Director of Social Work at Thyme Care, said the model was designed to address non-clinical factors that often affect treatment outcomes.

“You cannot treat cancer without addressing the emotional and social realities that come with it,” Broussard said. “Social workers are trained to look beyond the presenting problem and understand the underlying factors, whether that’s housing instability, caregiver strain, depression, or fear about the future.”

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