Its mission complete, ZIHP gives way to new infusion clinic

The Zablocki Integrated Health Program (ZIHP) clinic in Building 70 — stood up to handle COVID testing and vaccinations and to reduce traffic in the main hospital — will be officially shuttered Feb. 20. 

“ZIHP has completed its mission,” said Vanessa Jenrich, assistant nurse manager for the Ambulatory Infusion Center and a longtime ZIHP nurse. “ZIHP was our VA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Though many of the functions for which it was originally created have been relocated or integrated elsewhere in the hospital in recent years, its one remaining service — the Ambulatory Infusion Center — will move to the 10th floor of Building 111, opening Feb. 24.

ZIHP was “born out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when adaptability and innovation were essential,” Jenrich said. “It became a hub for mass testing and vaccinations, coordinating appointments for both Veterans and employees.”

When COVID hit in the spring of 2020, screening and swabbing stations were set up at the East Entrance. In time, drive-through testing began in the Research Circle on the south side of Building 70. By that fall, ZIHP opened in the E wing of Building 70.

Before long, ZIHP was humming with activity, especially after COVID vaccines were introduced in late 2020. By using the Research Circle, Veterans could avoid the hospital altogether and easily “zip in and zip out.” 

Over time, the East Entrance operations moved to ZIHP, and employees joined Veterans in receiving tests and vaccinations in ZIHP. Infusions and specimen collection were added, evolving ZIHP into a one-stop-shop for many routine medical procedures. 

But the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency in May of 2023 saw ZIHP’s mission change. Some services were phased out while others were integrated into normal health services. 

ZIHP’s legacy, according to its manager Stephanie Harlow, was that it was nimble and changed with the times and evolving needs.

“ZIHP met its mission by being able to pivot,” she said. “There wasn’t any way to anticipate what the need was going to be, so you had to pivot quickly. It just kept changing.

“It was a really unique time,” Harlow said, noting that the staff had to “navigate emotionally charged unknowns and give a lot of reassurance that it was going to be OK. And what makes me most proud is the team we had over the years was willing to jump in and figure it out.”

Andrea Klipp, associate division manager for acute outpatient nursing, agreed.

“The team has been innovative and creative with the care they provide,” she said. “They are very passionate about Veteran care, so I’m excited to see them in a space that is supportive of their needs.

As ZIHP’s main mission wound down, the infusion services ramped up. Jenrich said the infusion population is growing, and the new space on the 10th floor provides better accommodations. 

“I think that is one of the biggest wins,” she said, noting that ZIHP was always meant to be temporary. “It will be really nice to provide care in a space specifically set up for that.”

“It will be nice to have a new, modern space for the infusion clinic,” said Ben Thelen, division manager for acute outpatient nursing, calling the space “a big upgrade. It will be a welcoming environment for our Veterans.”

And while ZIHP was created to reduce traffic in the hospital, Harlow said having the infusion center in Building 111 is a benefit, especially for Veterans who might have multiple appointments for different services.

“And having a permanent home will give us an opportunity to really leverage our resources to potentially offer more services and continue to grow and meet the needs of our Veterans,” Harlow said.

The Ambulatory Infusion Center will operate 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays in Room 10645 of Building 111.