Richard O. Rutland, Jr., M.D. of Fayette
Rural Health Provider Exceptional Achievement Award Recipient
Richard O. Rutland, Jr., M.D. addresses those in attendance following his being presented with the Rural Health Provider Exceptional Achievement Award by Donald E. Williamson, M.D., Alabama State Health Officer.
Dr. Rutland is completing his 51st year in the practice of medicine. He closed his office practice in 1997 and immediately assumed the position of Medical Director at the Fayette Medical Center’s 122-patient nursing home. Two years ago the only nursing home in Lamar County lost its physician. Dr. Rutland assumed those responsibilities two partial days a week until another physician can be found.
During his office practice, Dr. Rutland delivered over 2,000 babies, averaged working between 70-75 hours a week, saw 25-35 patients daily at his office, made morning and evening hospital rounds, and worked in the Fayette Medical Center emergency room 7-8 nights per month. When he retired from office practice in 1997, he wrote each patient a personal letter notifying them of his decision and offering to assist them in relocating with another physician. Each letter was personal and these went out before he would allow to have a closure notice placed in the newspaper.
Dr. Rutland served as Attending Physician at the Berry Medical Clinic in Berry, Alabama from 1976 through 1980. The town had no physician. Dr. Rutland knew how difficult it was for many of the elderly citizens of that community to find transportation to a doctor when they needed one. Often they did without medical care until they were hospitalized in very serious condition. Dr. Rutland gave up his one day off a week and spent that day seeing patients in a two-room cinder block building in Berry. He convinced a colleague to also go to Berry on his day off. For at least two days a week people in that area had easy access to medical care. This continued for four years when the town was able to build a small clinic and recruit a physician.
He also served as Attending Physician at the Kennedy Medical Clinic in Kennedy, Alabama from 1983 through 1984. He started this clinic and saw patients on his day off for two years when a physician was secured.
During the 1960's, Dr. Rutland was instrumental in the development of the College of Community Health Sciences at the University of Alabama and took two days a week away from his practice to teach clinicals to family practice residents at this college. He started a rural preceptorship for medical students and Family Practice residents to spend part of their training time in rural areas. He has been appointed by the University of Alabama to assist in writing a history of the College of Community Health Science in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville.
Five years ago, Dr. Rutland suffered a serious heart attack. After recovery he had to travel 90 miles a day, three days a week to participate in the nearest rehabilitation program. Realizing what a difficulty this was for the elderly, within a year the Fayette Medical Center had begun a cardiac rehabilitation program with 10 patients registered even before the doors were opened. Dr. Rutland served as the medical advisor until an internist was recruited.
In 1981 Dr. Rutland was recognized as the "Family Doctor of the Year" in the United States by Good Housekeeping magazine and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was presented with a "Certificate of Distinction" for 50 years of medical practice by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama in 1999. He was also recognized for 50 years of practice by the American Academy of Family Practice and his medical school alma mater, Tulane University.
Dr. Rutland and his wife, Nancy Babb Rutland, have been married for 54 years. They have four children: Richard O. Rutland, III, M.D. of Gadsden, Alabama; Craig D. Rutland, M.D. of Nashville, Tennessee; Cindy McBrearty of Fairhope, Alabama (wife of Michael McBrearty, M.D.); and Melissa Cathey of Washington state.
Dr. Rutland served active military duty in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1952 serving in the Pacific and Korean Theaters. He attends and actively serves the First United Methodist Church of Fayette; is actively involved with local civic and educational organizations, being named Fayette County's "Man of the Year" in 1960; and is a member of numerous professional organizations.