Dr. Todd Hatch wants other doctors to step up for OEF and OIF veterans

Local doctor has a plan to help the VA treat America's vets -- for free

by Kevin Reece / 11 News

Posted on April 2, 2010


HOUSTON—The Veterans Administration more than has its hands full when it comes to caring for aging and injured veterans.

Even under the best of circumstances, they have millions of patients to care for each year.

But a Houston-area doctor has a plan – he wants the rest of the medical community to step in and do their part.

John Thompson is one of those veterans. He makes monthly visits to Dr. Todd Hatch for neck, back and foot pain.

That pain started on the other side of the world, when Thompson spent a year with the Army in Iraq.

Thompson’s supply convoys criss-crossed the country, and day-to-day life was mostly uneventful. But even though he was never injured in battle, the wear and tear of being on the road led to back problems.

When he came home, he initially sought help at the Houston VA.

"They, uh, you know, threw some medicine at me and said, ‘Here you go. This will take care of it.’ But over time, it progressively got worse, and I really didn’t know where to go," Thompson said.

That is, until he drove past the readerboard at Sunrise Chiropractic, where Dr. Hatch Works, and saw that Iraq and Afghan war vets could get help there – for free.

"They have a lot of pride, and they don’t want to ask for help. But they’ll take help if it’s offered," Hatch said.

Hatch began offering that help, because soldiers told him the VA often can’t.

"The government cannot take care of all these soldiers. There’s no way they can meet all their needs. So I think it’s time for the citizens to step up, say what we can do for our own people," Hatch said.
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Local doctor has a plan to help the VA

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Wounded Warriors Volunteer Association Web site
MISSION STATEMENT

The Wounded Warrior Volunteer Association (WWVA) recognizes and appreciates the willingness of our veterans, active duty and reservists to serve and protect. While the United States government attempts to meet the health care needs of those brave men and women there are times that some of those needs are not meet. Additionally we are concerned about those warriors that did not sustain injuries that “qualified” them for health care under such programs, warriors that have been “released” from such programs and those warriors that have given up on seeking care through such programs due to the extenuating bureaucracy involved. The primary mission of the Wounded Warriors Volunteer Association (WWVA) is to connect Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with healthcare providers and services who agree to provide quality care at no cost to the warrior. Some providers may also elect to offer the same benefit to the warrior’s spouse or primary care giver.