Jack F. Rutledge Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

This has been a long journey for me and I needed to feel confident about my decision to gastric bypass surgery. I found that with Dr. Rutledge and his staff. The best part about this journey was the education I received prior to my surgery. From the seminar, written material and my office visits, I became confident about my decision and became at ease with the person who was going to help me transform my life. I was completely informed and educated about my surgery and became very confident in moving forward.

I really like Dr. Rutledge as a doctor and a person. He really cares about his patients and wants them to be at ease with their decisions. He related well with me and I felt at ease to speak my mind with him. I had two of my other doctors on different occasions tell me that they were impressed with Dr. Rutledge's program and they were confident with his surgical skills. As a surgeon, he is top notch. I had no complications post surgery other than minor tissue inflammation, which was my body’s response to the surgery. That was immediately addressed and resolved within two days.

His staff is wonderful! Rachael, his surgical assistant, is beyond awesome! What a motivator! I love how he and she can be firm with what is expected yet understand the struggle. She and Dr. Rutledge called me many times in the weeks following surgery just to check on me. His other staff are awesome as well! Very pleasant, understanding and helpful.

This journey of mine has been and is truly a group effort. Everyone in that office was my cheerleader! Between my family's support and Dir. Rutledge’s and his staff's support, this journey has been one of the best in my life!

Thank you Dr. Rutledge and staff for your friendships and help!!!

Review of Dr. Jack Rutledge:

I began my WLS journey in December of last year when I attended Dr. Rutledge's WLS seminar at Memorial Hospital. I knew I liked him immediately. He had a very informative presentation that detailed both the RNY bypass and the VSG (my surgery of choice) in a friendly, but no-nonsense manner. After the seminar, I made an appointment to meet him in January. When I first went to his office, everyone on his staff was very friendly and informative. His nurse, Rachel, is incredibly sweet and answered a lot of my questions before Dr. Rutledge came in. When he came in, the first thing he asked was, "Why do you want the sleeve?" I answered with the my truth that I didn't want to be limited on medications when I am old and gray (I'm 27) and that I didn't like the idea that my stomach could never be examined (i.e. scope) should I ever have a need. He smiled and said, "Good answer!" then clarified that he sees a lot of young people who want to lose weight in a short-term capacity ("There's this wedding that I'm going to be in in a few months….." etc). After we talked and he did a quick physical exam, he said that he agreed with me that the Gastric Sleeve would be great for me. He kept smiling and saying, "This is going to be so great for you.!" His excitement was infectious! The office manager and insurance specialist (who I wouldn't have made it past Cigna without) both came in to meet me and were also really excited for me. Everyone in the office was SO nice. I really don't understand how anyone has said in their review that the office staff were anything less that wonderful! People seem to think that Dr. Rutledge acts "better than you." Well, the way I see it is that Dr. Rutledge is incredibly intelligent and does not dumb things down. I have no problem with this considering that we, the patients, are signing up to have our insides rearranged. YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO. Do some research before starting this journey! Don't go into it ignorant, people. That's just irresponsible. (rant over, sorry)

Moving on… I attended all of my required pre op classes (I'll write a review of the Memorial system later) and was set for surgery on 7/1. On the morning of surgery, Dr. Rutledge came into my admitting room and talked to me and my parents, who were along for the ride :) He told them that he would come out and talk to them a few times during surgery to keep them up to speed on how things were going. He also told them (he'd said it before but was reminding) that I'd be in recovery for 2 hours because he likes to monitor vitals longer than most surgeons. I appreciated his thoroughness there. He came over to my bed, took my bend and said, "Are you ready?" And since I hadn't been nervous at all, I said "LET'S DO IT!"

I saw Dr. Rutledge's nurse, Rachel, the next morning and then him a few hours later when he told me I could go home. I had no problems in the hospital (again, I'll review my Memorial experience later)

I went in for my 1 week follow-up and everything was great. Dr. Rutledge kept telling me that "this is going to be so great for you!" He also said that his entire surgical team wanted to see me at 6 months out (I guess I made an impression!)

I went in for my 1 month appointment (a week late) last week and Dr. Rutledge talked with me for almost an hour over the problems that I've had (reflux, nausea, lactose intolerance). He has me scheduled for a barium test which he said he will be present for so that he can see my images live, rather than second hand. He walked me through my surgical notes and said that everything was textbook, but he wants to rule out anything structurally wrong. My insurance is going to be changing in a few weeks (job stuff) and he even called in few favors in order to get this test done under my current insurance policy. In the meantime, he's put me on a PPI, which we hope will correct ALL of my symptoms. So far, it has! I really respect Dr. Rutledge for his thoroughness in wanting to do the barium test anyway.

In all, I have NOTHING negative to say about Dr. Rutledge, his team, or my experience at Memorial Hospital. If you are (still) reading this and are considering WLS with Dr. Jack Rutledge, you will not be disappointed with your results. And hey, if you don't like him (I personally think he's a charmer who hung the moon), then find someone else! This is a serious surgery. Make sure you are completely comfortable with the person behind the scalpel.

Dr. Rutledge and his staff are awesome! I have been working with him since November 2012 and I finally had my surgery (due to insurance guidelines)on April 16th, 2013. I did have some unexpected complications but it had nothing to do with the surgery. I was readmitted to the hospital and he came to see me every single day even on the weekend to check on me and see if I needed anything or needed my meds changed. I have talked with his office staff on numerous occasions and they have always been so sweet and caring to my needs or concerns. I would recommend Dr. Rutledge to anyone and everyone. He has a wonderful bedside manner and yes he is strict but if we are in need of having this surgery, more than likely that is what we need. I know it is what I needed!

Dr Jack F Rutledge may be a good doctor so I heard. You have to get past his staff that acted like they were above you. I don't think any of them has been fat so they can not connect with the patients. The materials they give to people is not professional. The materials are incomplete and does not have correct information on it. Took me 25 minutes once I got to the hospital to find his office. Went to 3 different offices before I found his. His staff didn't even know how to show empathy when I was there. They were very cold. People like that does not need to be in the medical field. It took me awhile to fill out the paper work was a large packet, then to find out they did not have the correct address to send it to. So they did not receive it. I could not remember all the information that was on the forms. So I would not have all the information for them. This was the only day I could take off. I work 2 jobs and had worked this into my schedule to fit theirs. Guess was not to be.

You really dont want me to do that.....

I FIRST MET DR. RUTLEDGE AT THE WLS SEMINAR HE HOLDS AT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. HE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE ON THE DIFFERENT SURGERIES. AFTERWARDS HE OPENED THE FLOOR TO US FOR QUESTIONS. HE ALLOWED US TO ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE NEEDED. HE AND HIS STAFF WERE VERY HELPFUL.AFTER THE SEMINAR, I MADE MY FIRST APPT WITH DR. RUTLEDGE HIS STAFF WERE VERY KIND AND HAVE BEEN WORKING TO ASSIST ME THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS TO MY APPROVAL, HELPING OUT ANYWAY THEY COULD.HE IS A VERY CARING DOCTOR WHO WELCOMES YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.HE SPENT AMPLE TIME DISCUSSING THE RISK OF WLS AND AFTERCARE, THERES NOT ANYTHING AS OF YET THAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT DR. RUTLEDGE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO UPDATING YOU ON HIS BEDSIDE MANNER ETC AFTER MY SURGERY. SO FAR IM VERY PLEASED WITH THE SURGEON IVE CHOSE.

He was great. It is great knowing if I have problems that he will be there for me. There's not to many surgeons like this. no post op infection.

My first impression came at his seminar. He seemed professional. As I met him at his office and through surgery Dr Rutledge seemed nice and concerned that I was aware of my options and potential problems. His office staff have been awesome! They are always there with a caring, supportive, friendly & helpful attitude. There is staff to work with us on exercise, diet and bi-weekly support group. To me surgical competence & bedside manners are very important part of this procedure.

Dr. Rutledge is a terrific physician. He, in no way, creates a negative atmosphere when you are in his presence. He is caring about his patients and willing to answer any questions his patients have. He has a strict guideline before initially meeting his patients. All new patients must attend a seminar that he gives once a week. Then an initial appointment is made with him. Details are discussed and then you are scheduled to meet with 4 different specialists. What is so nice, all 4 are at the same location, and you meet them the same day. Once the consultation day is completed, the surgery is scheduled. I would recommend Dr. Rutledge to any of my friends and family.

Great guy, seems to really care about me!rnOffice staff are great, very friendly!Herncan read you like a book just by your greeting!rnAftercare was stressed greatly if you want to succeed for once and not fail like I have my whole life.rnHe addressed all the risks of the surgery.rnOverall I would highly reccomend him.rnHe has great surgical confidence and great bedside manner at the same time.