Center for Laparoscopic Surgery Bariatric Center Reviews

shoutjoy for Robert Rutledge

Dr. Rutledge is the most unique surgeon I have ever met. He may be a bit pricey but he makes SURE you know what you are getting into BEFORE surgery. You have to follow this 12 item check list before you are even considered. You will have a patient manual that explains the surgery, the other types of surgery, statistics of weight loss progression, pre and post op directions. Almost everything you will ever want to know. Once you submit this packet, you are evaluated and approved or not approved. Once you have approval, you have your surgery. You will be totally aware of what will happen to you and know most of the adversities or common side affects BEFORE you enter the hospital. He is extremely skilled in his job and bar any complications, your surgery is within about 30 minutes. You are home the next day. Recover, for most, is very fast. One thing he stresses in this packet is that you definitely have family support and a local doctor's support before he will accept you. He wants you to depend alot on your family doctor for your aftercare and wants you to keep in touch. He has follow up forms plus he wishes to see you if possible a few times that first year. He has two email groups in which you get alot of support from your fellow postops as well as help those preops who desire the surgery. His website is http://clos.net.

The negatives.. well, he isn't perfect. He cannot guarantee everyone will have rapid and total weight loss. He is not God and doesn't know our bodies and how they will react. Too many people expect this of him and he cannot offer this assurance. He cannot offer 100% no side affects. He does not take insurance! He may in the future. HOWEVER, this does NOT mean you can't get insurance approval and be reimbursed!

I WOULD DO THIS A ZILLION TIMES AGAIN AND AGAIN!!! IT'S WORTH ALL THE NEGATIVES!!

cmuckey for Robert Rutledge

The first time I met Dr. Rutledge was at an informational meeting for the Mini-Gastric Bypass. He was very knowledgable, personalble and had a great sense of humor. My impression of him only improved over time. He has an amazing bedside maner and really cares for his patients. The only complaint I have is that he always seemed a bit rushed. His office staff is the best. They are all former patients of his and know first hand what you are going through. Dr. Rutledge is a stickler for follow-up and makes you sign a legal document stating that you agree to follow-up with him yearly for the rest of your life. He insists that you contact him daily for the first week after your surgery and he is the only Dr. I have ever seen that hands out his cell phone number. The risks of surgery are very well documented and you have to go over them all and summarize them in your own words. People who have surgery with Dr. Rutledge return and bring their loved ones to have the surgery. I don't think there is a better compliment than that. I will always be grateful to Dr. Rutledge.

Kathy W. for David Hargroder

Dr. Hargroder is a very warm and caring person. I have had multiple problems and he has taken the time to call and check on me.

Lorrie N. for David Hargroder

Dr. David Hargroder was very careful, thoughtful and professional. Most of all he was accessible! He returns phone calls, keeps a cell phone handy. Makes time to answer questions. He is a former liver transplant surgeon, and both my husband and I had a good rapport with him before, during, and after our surgeries.

His staff is accessible. Star Sweet is the patient rep who worked with us, and led us through the pre-surgery experience with compassion and expertise. She's also an MGB patient, so she had first hand experience to share with us!

CLOS and Dr. Hargroder fully emphasize aftercare with follow up appointments, dietary guidelines and supplement recommendations, etc.

Risks are thoroughly reviewed with the patients and aftercare is great! He's a great doctor!

What is difficult in this surgery is having to travel away from home to get the surgery. Our recovery after being out of the hospital meant a 7 day stay in a local hotel. Luckily, MGB surgery is normally easy to recover from, and then we were able to be out and about enjoying shopping and the sites around historic Joplin.

Patricia H. for Robert Rutledge

Please contact me via private email for details on Dr Rutledge and his staff. "[email protected]"

peter T. for Robert Rutledge

Dr.Rutledge was a very good and thorough physician.He exolained all the pros and cons every step of the way. He made the procedure go very easily and smoothly.

I would do this again in a New York minute.

His staff was great and very informative and helpful.

There is nothing I could think of.

That this is the best form of weight loss surgery,The Mini Gastric Bypass.

He tells you what you should eat and not eat and what to drink and not drink,to protect your new stomach.

Yes,He has a printed booklet that explains everything you should do and expect.

Explains the worst that could happen.

Both were very good.

Okey you want negative the procedure brings terrible gas. The smell is horrible to everyone else thats all I can think of.

Veronica G. for Robert Rutledge

Dr. Rutledge is patient and will spend as
much time with you as you want. If you have a million questions, he will answer them. He is kind, caring,knowledgeable, professional, well mannered, to met him is to love him. Along with the professionalism I have the highest regard for him. The entire CLOS staff is no other like I have met before. They truly
care about people. They treat each person special and will go beyond, I mean beyond, the call of duty. He requires that each of his patients thoroughly educate themselves, not only about the surgery itself but all of the changes and requirements that your body will go through and need. He teaches how to take care of your new body. He stresses all of the risks involved with the surgery in detail. Dr. Rutledge and his staff are always available, 24/7. Other then Dr. Rutledge and his staff I dont know anyone else who publicly posts their phone numbers for their patients to call if you need them. You can see for yourself at www.clos.net. Not only I, but all of his patients thank God for Dr. Rutledge and the lives he has saved!

Brenda M. for David Hargroder

I have only met Dr. Hargroder once at a seminar in May. But after listening to his presentation, I was glad I had not had RNY! He gave me an opportunity to be better educated on WLS in general. It was is presentation that won me over to the Mini Gastric By Pass Surgery. I am looking to have surgery at Heart of Florida Hospital with Dr Hargroder and Dr.Rajaram.

The staff is terrific, and I have worked with staff from another WLS office, so I have a point of comparison. They have been helpful as I went through all the steps of filling out the endless!! paperwork.

They give you a manual that is overwhelming at first. I dare to say I didn't understand some of it at first...but they will answer questions. I submitted my paperwork and have been accepted. I am just waiting for the last letter of clearence from my PCP.

I hope to have the surgery in Oct or Nov.

Mikayla A. for Robert Rutledge

<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
<meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document>
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 9">
<meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 9">
<link rel=File-List href="./:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>422</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2406</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>20</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2954</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>9.2720</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>

</style>
</head>

<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='tab-interval:.5in'>

<div class=Section1>

My
personal site: <a
href="http://www.simplewls.com/">http://www.simplewls.com</a><o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

What was your first impression of
him/her?<o:p></o:p>

My
first impression of Dr. Rutledge was from this site. Thanks to obesityhelp.com, I learned about Dr. R and the
mini-gastric bypass. The patients spoke
highly of him and the results spoke for the procedure itself. Although I found some surgeons criticize Dr.
R for his pioneering approach (a modified Billroth 2), it was easy to see that
they had not done their homework. Some
of the surgeons complaining haven’t done even half the number of surgeries of
Dr. R. He’s done the MGB on over 1000
patients. That’s an impressive track
record and his complication rates are public and they are better than the
complication of rates of the very surgeons that were criticizing. I joined his email support group and learned
more and more about him. When we met
face to face on 10-24-00, the day before my surgery, he was FANTASTIC! While his sense humor is quick witted, he is
a true sweetheart. Before my journey to
Durham, NC, I emailed him about four times and he answered each email within
four hours, some were answered within the hour. He’s amazing. To learn
more, check out my site: <a
href="http://www.simplewls.com/ContactQuestions.htm">http://www.simplewls.com/ContactQuestions.htm</a><o:p></o:p>

 
How did your impression change over time?<o:p></o:p>

At
the writing of this post, I am about six weeks post-op and I have even greater
respect for Dr. Rutledge. He is a class
act and my personal hero! 
 
How would you describe his/her office staff?<o:p></o:p>

Barb and Diane were the primary two
that I dealt with and they were great.
Diane (the nurse) had her surgery with Dr. R on 11-14-00. She did great. Barb is going to have her MGB in 2001. 
 
What did you like least about
him/her?<o:p></o:p>

Nothing. He’s a class act and just a wonderful person. As a nurse, I don’t come to these
conclusions easily. I’ve met a bunch of
physicians that I don’t respect. 
 
What should future patients know
about him/her?<o:p></o:p>

Dr. Rutledge is a qualified
surgeon. He’s professional, knowledgeable
and he has a heart for those suffering with morbid obesity. He has experience
doing both Roux-en-Y and the MGB (which he pioneered). He does the MGB laproscopically exclusively
now. 
 
How much does he/she emphasize
aftercare?<o:p></o:p>

After your surgery, Dr. R will email you and have you
submit your post-op status. Dr. R
requires each patient to do an exhaustive packet and your primary care
physician must be willing to do your follow up according to Dr. R’s rules and
he even requires them to put that in writing prior to your surgery. Without this letter from your PCP, you will
not be approved for surgery. 
 
Does
he/she have a structured aftercare program?

See the above comment. 
 
How did he/she address the risks of
surgery?<o:p></o:p>

Just check out his site <a
href="http://www.clos.net/">www.clos.net</a>.
 You won’t find a more thorough
bariatric surgeon. The consent form
prior to surgery lists every conceivable complication. He won’t stand for his patients to be uninformed. You are going in with both eyes wide open. 
 
How would you rate him/her overall?<o:p></o:p>

On a scale of 1-10, he gets an 11
from me! 
 
Which is better, surgical competence,
bedside manner, or both great?<o:p></o:p>

He gets the highest ratings from
me. His surgical competence and beside
manner are stellar!<o:p></o:p>

</div>

</body>

</html>

exp1orer for Robert Rutledge

11/28/02 I have not only met this wonderful man and his staff, I have already had the surgery, and could not be more pleased. Dr. Rutledge was very kind, compasionate, and understanding. He wants us to stay in contact with him after surgery. He is very adimant about patient follow up care.

Overall rating of 1-10, he is an 15!!!!

Begining Research - I have not met with Dr. Rutledge as of yet, but from the conversations I have had with post-op patinets of his, he is kind, caring, and very adamant about patient education. His staff have been very helpful and are very willing to answer any questions. I can't wait to set a date!!!!

Center for Laparoscopic Surgery

Center for Laparoscopic Surgery Bariatric Center

Our Mission

Follow us

Links

Select Photos

Center for Laparoscopic Surgery

Center for Laparoscopic Surgery Bariatric Center