Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth Hospital

DR. Richard is GREAT!!

My first meeting with doctor Richard was comforting. i look forward to him being my surgeon. I am looking forward to my pre-op meeting on august 6. The pre-op meeting went great. Surgery went good and my stay in the hospital was pleasent Dr. Richard came around and was always pleasent to me. he has a great bedside manner.soon after my surgery Dr. Richard was called up for active duty in Irag to take care of our wounded boys. that really made me feel good that i a doctor that serves our country. if this man can take care of a wounded solider a simple operation like this is nothing for him. thank you Doctor Richard for giving me my life back and our prayers are with you as you serve our country.

I was originally all physic up to have Dr. Procter as my surgeon, but ended up being assigned to Dr. Richards. And as much as I was alittle disappointed in not getting Dr. Procter I sure was glad when it was all said and done that I got Dr. Richards. He has the patience of an angel, he explains everything in laymens terms and he takes the time to let you know what's going to happen and also what could and will happen after the surgery. I thank the good Lord that I ended upgetting him in the end. I ended up having a couple of complications from my surgery and he had to go back in and fix a couple of things, but after that it's been pretty easy. Dr. Richards explained everything he had to do when he went back in and apologized for having to go back in in the first place and that it took him so long to do it!! ( he waited 3 days after to go back in). Overall I have been extremely pleased with Dr. Richards.

My first impression of Dr Richard was, he was a very kind man that totally understood my disease~Obesity.
Over the past year my impression has not changed. He has been there for me each time I have needed him. He recently done a Hernia repair on me as well (6-3-04).
The office staff are wonderful! Amy N. in insurance is a doll! And Tammy (his nurse is the sweetest!) As well as all the others I have met in the group. I dont think I have met one hateful person there, (even when I was so ugly as we tried to schedule the hernia repair with a tummy tuck using 2 different surgeons...Sorry guys!)
Cant think of anything i didnt like about Dr Richard. Hes a wonderful man.
I KNEW all the risks of this surgery before hand. He was very open and honest, also telling me what my choices were if I chose not to have the surgery.
I would rate him a 10+.
His surgical competence is outstanding!

I first met both Dr. Richard & Dr. Proctor, his partner, at an informational meeting. I remember thinking how "small" Dr. Richard was and how "large" we must all seem to him. Both doctors were extremely kind and I knew immediately that I would choose him to perform my surgery. They have a real love & understanding for people who need gastric bypass surgery. They open, honest and they are absolutely non-judgemental about the obese population. They had also performed surgery on people that I worked with and were the #1 choice of my healthcare provider. His office staff was very caring, but have had a hard time handling their ever-growing patient list. I would recommend them and do to everyone I know and meet. I know a lot of people who have used other surgeons in Georgia and their program for pre & post op were at best, 1/2 of what the patients of Dr. Richard & Dr. Proctor are given. They make sure that the aftercare is so ingrained in your brain that you can recite their manual backwards! I am a walking testimony to this practice, as I followed their manual to the letter and I lost 130lbs in less than 1 year and require no plastic surgery. They are a blessing, as is their program. I have been blessed by God for having them and for the wonderful outcome I have been given. The aftercare program is very structured, but easy to follow. They have a very good nutritional & psychological staff working with them that helps to make their plan so successful. I can not say enough about these surgeons & their surgical practice. They have extreme surgical competence, as I researched them completely, including their successful/death ratio. They have one of the lowest death ratio's in the southeast. I was visited by both surgeons while in the hospital and both have a wonderful disposition and bedside manner. The psychologist even accompanied on one visit.

My first impression of Dr. Richards was a good one. He is friendly and easy to get along with. My opinion hasn't changed about him at all.

The office staff is very friendly and helpful.

There is nothing I dislike at all.

Very professional but friendly and caring.

Aftercare is very important to him.

Yes

All the problems that could happen were discussed.
My rating of him is 95+

Both

When I first met him, there was something in his eyes that made me say this is who will be my surgeon. He answer all of my questions and was very nice to me. After my surgery,the Pre-op care was done very well, and I did not go home just any type of way, I had a little temp and a few small problems. Dr.Richard had it under comtrol and order all the test to make sure it was indeed a small thing. I was impressed.{7/13/4} My hospital stay was for 4 days. Every problem that has accured after surgery Dr, Richard's staff was able to help me. I have lost over 35 lbs {as of 8/23/04}and my scar is a nice and small, you can barely see
it. thankz thankz thankz!!!!!!

THANK YOU DR. RICHARD

I had decided to go to Dr. Procter (his partner) at first. To get the surgery date I wanted, I had to use Dr Richard. Boy, I'm glad I did! He is very nice, took time to answer all my questions, and has a great sense of humor.

My first impression was that he was too military. When I became his patient, my opinion changed drastically. He is great, sympathetic and doesn't mind when you hug him!

I love the office staff at Obesity Solutions! Many of them are former patients and actually understand all your problems. They are encouraging and friendly.

I can't think of anything I don't like about Dr. Richard.

If you are thinking of Dr Richard, don't let the first impression put you off.

The whole Obesity Solutions team encourage aftercare. We are to see them for the rest of our lives. They have a support group and informational meetings as well as a website for support.

The risks of surgery are educated until you know them by heart. Dr Richard taylors them to your own current medical condition and previous surgery history.

I would give Dr Richard and Obesity Solutions an A++ overall.

I couldn't see him operate, but my mother is a surgical nurse (retired) and felt he was great in his competence. I love his bedside manner. He's very warm and actually listens!

My first impression of Dr. Richard was and still is WONDERFUL. The office staff is so very nice and knowledgeable. He totally put me at ease and answered all of my questions very well and also educated me a little more. Future patients will fall in love with his bedside manner... he is very soft-spoken and looks you in the eye, not at your belly and treats you like you are the only person in the world while he is talking to you. He addressed the risks of surgery in detail and made sure I understood every last risk and what could happen, and ended with "But we're not expecting that, nor are we going to think about it unless it's necessary." He is very confident about the outcome of each patient, he's not "Oh, everyone will be fine." There is no "everyone" when it's just you and him. It's only you. He is completely focused on you and nothing else. I am completely at rest with him and not worried about anything. He exudes self-confidence and the beside manner is very confident and very caring. I look forward to getting to know him better. This is my own personal experience with him and my opinion of him has not changed.

~impression, was good!

~impression over time, hasn't changed!

~office staff, great!

~like best, great reputation!

~emphasize in aftercare, great deal!

~structured aftercare program, yes!

~risks addressed, yes greatly- oppourtunity to ask anything you can possible think of!

~rating overall, 9!

~I am a person who had complications because I got the flu 5 weeks post-op. I have found that among advising the office of how sick I was, they did not follow up with me, as I thought they would have, that is just my personal assessment.