Vertex GPS™ Patient Support Specialists now have extended hours!
Specialists are available between 8 AM and 8 PM ET Monday through Thursday, and between 8 AM and 7 PM ET on Fridays.
Call or text your specialist at 1-877-752-5933 (press 2 for calls). 1-877-752-5933 (press 2 for calls).
My passion for public health is one of the reasons why I became a Patient Support Specialist. Working with patients means that I am able to help provide access to treatment in a timely manner and also continue to provide product support throughout their treatment. In my experience, the process starts with building a strong relationship with patients, their families, and their care team.
It’s really important for me to find a balance between work and finding time to care for myself. For me, yoga is an essential part of my day that keeps me going.
My favorite part of being a Patient Support Specialist is listening. I’m so lucky to hear from the GPS community firsthand.
Every patient or caregiver’s story is different. And when a patient shares a piece of their life with me, I have it in the back of my mind whenever I interact with them.
Whether it’s a call, e-mail, text message, or even sending a birthday card, we are constantly improving the way we communicate with patients and caregivers. I try to stay in touch with my patients throughout the year so they know I am here to help them stay on track with their Vertex medicine. Patient Support Specialists like me are only a call, e-mail, or text message away.
Music. I feel like I’m always listening to music. There’s nothing better than discovering new music or when you shuffle a playlist and the perfect song comes on.
That’s a tough question! Here in Boston we are lucky enough to experience all 4 seasons. Fall in New England is particularly beautiful. The leaves change colors and it starts to get a little bit cooler. And who doesn’t love apple picking?
I love sushi. It’s something I didn’t try until after college, but I’m glad I finally did. I feel like whenever I have sushi, I’m always trying something new. Most of the time I don’t really know what I’m ordering, so I just go for it!
I recently backpacked for 2 weeks through Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Even though I was traveling alone, I met so many interesting people from all over the world. I realized that most of the time when I think I’m lost, I end up finding the most interesting things that I might have missed if I turned around and didn’t keep going.
There’s nothing better than having a full tank of gas and some good music on in the car. I love heading down to Cape Cod or up to Maine. Even just getting out of the city of Boston and heading to a lake or the ocean can be so good for the soul.
I grew up south of Boston. When I was a kid, I always took the train into the city to visit my dad’s office downtown or to go to Red Sox games at Fenway Park. Now I take that same train in to work every day, and I love my walk from the train station to the Vertex headquarters. It’s a pretty cool feeling walking across the bridge and seeing the purple Vertex logo on top of our buildings. It definitely makes me proud to be able to tell people where I work and what we do.
When I’m not working as a Patient Support Specialist, I love spending time in the outdoors, hiking and camping. I’ve been caught in the rain enough times to learn that when I go on a trip, no matter how short, it’s important to be prepared.
In my role as a Patient Support Specialist, I have been able to carry that idea through to help my patients plan ahead for refills of their Vertex medicine.
My career began when my mother, who happened to only speak Spanish, was diagnosed with a serious illness 8 years ago. She had to face several obstacles to obtain help for her illness. Because of this, I decided to pursue a degree in healthcare management, and later on in public health.
Helping families and patients has been the most rewarding part of my life. My job is more than just my job. It’s an additional way for me to confirm that I’m not the only person in the world and that we are all in this world together.
We might look different, act different, and think different, but we are all here together, connected somehow. My job allows me to help others and keep a connection with many people.
I love being a Patient Support Specialist because I am able to be a problem-solver for my patients and families. Whenever I receive a call from a patient or a caregiver and they are unable to figure out a difficult process related to their insurance or refilling their medication, I love being that go-to person for them. The best part is knowing that they can rely on me to provide some calm in a stressful situation and assist for a smoother process.
Painting is my go-to-activity to relax and appreciate life.
I enjoy cooking and experimenting with new food combinations. I have actually made my own versions of some of the recipes from the Shared Space page on the Vertex GPS website! The turkey meatballs and cheesecake bites have been my favorites so far.
We all face changes, and some are harder than others to adjust to. As a Patient Support Specialist, I’m able to assist with different transitions—especially with insurance changes. So if you need to change insurance companies due to aging out of your parents' coverage plan or if you are switching jobs, I can help you during the process.
Healthcare providers and specialty pharmacies may need to be aware of insurance changes, especially if a prior authorization is needed, or if you need to change your specialty pharmacy.
As a Patient Support Specialist, I’m able to help determine your coverage eligibility, notify your healthcare provider, and help work with a pharmacy to fill your prescription.
If you do need to switch pharmacies, I'm also available to communicate with both pharmacies to get your prescription information transferred and help coordinate the first shipment with your new pharmacy.
In college, I loved chemistry—but I had to study a lot to get to a point where I could enjoy it. Patient Support Specialists, like me, want to help you stay on track with your Vertex medicine as you start college.
We can help coordinate between you, your insurance company, and your specialty pharmacy as you gain more independence and begin taking over your own care. We also have a ton of great educational resources to help get you started, like the Vertex GPS Starting College Kit!
Every day when I walk into Vertex, I’m excited to be here. On the way to my desk, I walk past the labs where scientists are conducting research. It’s special to be a part of a company that has such a strong mission and goal.
I have had a few patients visit Vertex and tour the facility. It’s always fun meeting patients or caregivers face-to-face. A lot of the time, people who visit Vertex don’t realize how much of the science is actually happening right at the Boston headquarters. I’ve been lucky enough to take a lab tour with patients a few times. It’s always an emotional experience when they get to see firsthand where the research and discovery are ongoing.
Before working at Vertex, I worked in media relations for a professional sports team. I worked closely with athletes and coaches on a daily basis. Now, working as a Patient Support Specialist, I’ve realized that many of the patients and caregivers I interact with have the same mental toughness, discipline, and work ethic that professional athletes have.
Like those athletes, the patients I support also follow strict treatment regimens and diets, and they are constantly working to take care of their bodies. But I think the patients and caregivers I support are more resilient than professional athletes!
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that it’s OK to not have everything in life all figured out. Life comes together as you live it, and with different experiences we’re able to shape our journey as we go.
While I was in college, I changed my major 3 times: from psychology to economics and finally to public health. Although my major changed multiple times, I always knew I wanted to work with people. And with public health, I knew I had found my calling.
After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in public health, I worked as a case manager at a homeless shelter. While supporting my clients there and helping them access services, I felt a strong sense of belonging.
Although my path wasn’t linear, I’m happy with my journey to get here. I believe each of my experiences shaped me into the person I am today, because they identified my passion for working with people. And I can put that to use as a Patient Support Specialist.
At Vertex, the health and well-being of the patients we serve are at the center of everything we do.
Hear from CEO, Dr. Reshma Kewalramani, in her open letter about the
Click "Learn More" to read her letter, and to find where to get more information regarding questions you may have about the COVID-19 global outbreak.