Local Chiropractors Offer Free Services To Returning Veterans

Chiropractic Healthcare Associates at Health One in Ridgefield is teaming with Army OneSource, a U.S. Army community outreach program, and the Army Community Covenant to raise awareness about the unique challenges of military life for service members and their families and to address the growing need for accessible health services for war veterans.

Dr. Michael Errichiello, who serves on the board of directors of the Greater Fort Lee Chamber of Commerce and is a member and two-time past president of the Fort Lee Rotary, said he and his partner at Chiropractic Healthcare Associates at Health One, Dr. Vineta S. Zalite, are joining other members of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC) across the state in treating returning veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars for free.

“Some of them don’t have health insurance when they come back; some of them aren’t employed,” Errichiello said. “So we’re extending our hands out to them to help them get through any sort of back- or spinal-related injury that they might have as a result of serving our country.”

One such veteran is Marine Corporal Sarang Ju, who came to Dr. Errichiello with severe lower-back pain after serving in Iraq for 13 months.

“He’s still currently a patient,” Errichiello said. “We’ve been treating him, and he’s been very happy. We’ve been successful with him.”

The program—called “Healing Hands 4 Heroes”— allows chiropractors to learn about the stresses and challenges service members and their families face as a result of multiple deployments, according to ANJC, which represents over 1,900 chiropractors statewide.

“If they’re veterans of the wars, and they’re interested in taking care of themselves as a result of something going wrong, they can just give us a call and set up an appointment so we can analyze them,” Errichiello said, adding that there’s no specific end date to the program, which provides treatment to veterans for a minimum of 60 days.

“I’m willing to do it because these guys are heroes—men or women—they’re protecting us; they’re protecting our freedom, and they deserve to get something in return,” he said.

For more information, contact Dr. Errichiello or Dr. Zalite locally at 201-945-2320, or contact ANJC headquarters at 908-722-5678 or visit them online.

Chiropractic Healthcare Associates at Health One is located at 540 Bergen Blvd. in Ridgefield.