Oncology Social Workers' Role in Patient-Centered Care

March is National Social Work Month. This year, the National Association of Social Workers’ theme is “Social Workers Stand Up.”  This is a time to acknowledge the contributions of all social workers.  Some social workers are part of a team, others work independently—all are patient centered in their approach to care.  Oncology social workers are part of this proud group—but our work differs in several ways.  While master’s degree prepared social workers are trained in assessing the psychosocial needs of their clients and in provision of a range of services, oncology social workers often have additional expertise and specialized clinical training in the meaning and impact of a cancer diagnosis on patients and their families.

Oncology social workers must have a working knowledge of cancer treatments, the side effects of treatment, and the psychosocial impact on the patient and family.  This skill set is a broad one, especially for those working in community cancer centers who are called on to help patients and families at all stages of illness and diagnoses. Oncology social workers may assist patients with a wide range of concerns, including issues faced by patients at high risk of cancer, those newly diagnosed, patients in active treatment, as well as helping with survivorship, palliative care, and end-of-life issues.

Oncology social workers need to be knowledgeable about individual and family coping styles, resources, clinical interventions, and employ a myriad of other skills to help patients and families manage the multidimensional (emotional, financial, and physical) impact of a cancer diagnosis through their long journey. This management can range from distress and depression screening to assisting with transportation issues. It can encompass educating patients (and their caregivers) about stress management and self-care. It can entail working with parents on how to talk about cancer in an age-appropriate way with their children or with employees on how to discuss their needs with their employers, and extend to finding community resources to assist with a number of problems.  And, at times, it is sitting with a family facing the loss of a beloved family member.

Key to success as an oncology social worker is the ability to be present, to engage open-heartedly with empathy and compassion, to start where the patient is, focus on hearing the patient and/or family needs, and helping them to meet those needs, which may range from a simple referral to managing complex multidimensional issues.

I often hear—“Your job must be very hard, I don’t know how you do it.” In my career as an oncology social worker, one of the most important things that I’ve learned after 30 years of working with cancer patients and their families is that it is a privilege to walk alongside them during their journey, whatever the outcome.  There are fears and tears, but laughter and warmth, too. To me, oncology patients and their families are role models of courage and grace in the face of an often traumatic and life-changing experience.

As we join in marking National Social Work Month, I would like to acknowledge my fellow oncology social workers and say “thank you” for your contributions as part of the multidisciplinary cancer care team.

Guest blogger Fran Becker, LCSW, OSW-C, is manager of Cancer Support Services, Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center, Stamford Hospital, and a past member of the ACCC Board of Trustees.

ACCC thanks all oncology social workers for their efforts as part of the multidisciplinary team delivering patient-centered care in cancer programs across the country.