Meet Leafwell’s Patient Care Team Lead, Estefany Rugerio

We sat down with Estefany Rugerio, one of Leafwell’s patient care team leads based in Puebla, Mexico, to learn more about the day-to-day operations at the clinic, how the patient care team assists patients with possible certification issues, and more.

Rugerio shares how Leafwell can accomplish the impossible: ensuring providers see patients in minutes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

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What Is a Patient Care Team Lead?

A patient care team lead works at the clinic and has direct contact with patients.

We make sure that everything flows smoothly in the clinic and that all patients get to see providers for their medical cannabis certifications.

We also have direct contact with the physicians and can contact each patient’s state in case of certification issues.

What’s a Day in the Life of a Leafwell Patient Care Team Lead Like

A typical day as a patient care team lead revolves around ensuring that patients are seen by their providers within 10 to 15 minutes. If there are any issues regarding their ability to see a provider, we help them.

We also help our patient care representatives if they have any issues or questions regarding medical card processes.

We guide the patients hand-by-hand to get them through the process and promptly complete everything.

What Inspired You To Work in the Cannabis Industry?

Before Leafwell, I worked for a cannabis dispensary for about a year. Then, when I heard about Leafwell, it caught my attention.

It’s the other side of the industry — from selling products to guiding patients to get their medical cards.

Basically, in society, cannabis is often regarded as just a drug. But from what I’ve witnessed and heard from a number of the patients we serve every day, it’s amazing how helpful it is for relief.

It’s incredible that we can help patients try something other than their traditional medicines.

What’s Your Favorite Part About Working in the Industry?

It’s great to know that patients return for their renewal and say it’s helped. They say they feel a lot better and have seen improvements as well.

Plus, they’re able to get rid of a bunch of other medications that they’ve been taking with medical cannabis. It makes me happy to know that we’re here to make a difference, and it’s helping a lot.

What’s Your Favorite Part About Working for Leafwell?

Since I started working with Leafwell, I felt like my life changed completely.

I always say this: Leafwell, to me, is like my family. We spend most of our day here at the clinic, and I wake up every day knowing that I can approach anybody here and they’ll be able to help me. The environment is amazing.

Also, our upper management considers each person’s unique qualities, and they know exactly where to put us because they know our strengths and how we can make the most of our jobs.

Any Advice for People Wanting To Work in the Cannabis Industry?

I think the first step would be to be open-minded. You’re going to see all the benefits that cannabis has to offer — whether you use it personally or whether it’s for a friend or somebody that you know.

Working in the industry will help you gain a lot of knowledge. You’ll learn that much of what you might’ve heard about cannabis before isn’t even true.

Seeing how it helps all of our patients and learning about their experiences — that feeling you get knowing that you’re able to help them — is the best experience you can ever have.

Final Thoughts?

If you decide to pick Leafwell as your clinic, we are here to help you every step of the way. We listen to patients and answer all of their questions.

We ensure that you get the care you deserve as a patient.

This interview has been lightly edited for concision and readability. Stay tuned for more Behind the Leafwell Curtain interviews, and check out our patient stories series on YouTube to hear medical marijuana patients talk about their journeys with cannabis in their own words.