My Biz: Something new in Iowa — IV therapy

CEDAR RAPIDS — Intravenous injections are usually associated with emergency rooms, “M*A*S*H“ episodes or elite-level athletes in training.

But Jennifer Haney thinks Iowans should consider taking fluids through a needle or a tube inserted into a vein to prepare for a marathon, or stave off the effects of aging, or to cure headaches — even to overcome a hangover.

“IV therapy is kind of a newer concept in Iowa,” Haney said. “There are some people aware of it, but if you travel around a lot, it’s huge. In Iowa, it’s just educating and getting the word out.”

Haney said a IV’s advantage lies in its efficiency at delivering minerals and vitamins into the bloodstream.

“Our stomachs are made to break things down and excrete, so you’re really only absorbing 20 or 30 percent of what you take orally,” she said. “Here, you’re getting 100 percent because it’s coming straight through the bloodstream.”

Haney is encouraged by locals’ response to the mid-April opening of her Cedar Rapids branch of the Prime IV Hydration & Wellness franchise.

“Most people come in from word-of-mouth, from other people who come in, people who travel frequently,” she said. “People find it on Facebook. Social media is huge.”

LPN training

Haney, 38, of rural Cedar Rapids, trained as a licensed practical nurse after graduating from Waverly High School.

She worked in a plastic surgery clinic before turning to real estate, and she owned and managed several rental properties.

She noticed IV spas, sometimes called “drip bars,” while traveling.

“I sold some rental properties and was looking around at businesses to get into and this came up,” she said.

All seven of Haney’s employees — up from three at opening — are registered. Haney and some of the RNs were trained by Prime IV at the company’s headquarters in Colorado Springs.

How it works

Customers choose from a menu of IV infusions formulated to address a range of health conditions. There are drips for hydration and for fatigue, weight loss and anti-aging, among others.

“We customize all drips here in-house,” Haney said. “We have a basic menu, but we can customize for you based on what you need and your specific symptoms.

“If you need help with sleep or the gym performance or the anti-aging, we can add it in or we can take out other things that you don’t need. Everything is custom for each person, but we do have a basic menu you can start from.”

  Buy Photo

New customers will spend about 90 minutes to devise a plan with Haney’s staff.

“We do a consultation and go over your health history and any vitamins you might take at home, any medications you may be on that might not mix well with some of the things we’re giving you,” she said. “If you’re already taking high amounts of some vitamins, you don’t need them here, or if you’re going to come here once or twice a month, you wouldn’t have to take them orally at home.”

Fees per visit range from about $100 to $300, with discounts for first-time visitors ($85) and monthly memberships. Health insurance doesn’t cover a discretionary IV, but Haney said customers can be reimbursed through personal health savings accounts.

Who’s using it?

Haney said IVs are popular among those training for triathlons, marathons and maybe even RAGBRAI.

“We have a drip to give you the energy and the nutrients to get you through it,” Haney said. “It helps your muscles relax and recover. Most of our drips have B vitamins in them, and that’s going to give you that energy over a week or two.”

Many regulars come in for the “Skinny Mermaid” drip, compounded with biotin for hair and nails and glutathione to build collagen to ease fine lines and wrinkles in the skin.

“It’s your anti-aging and your drip for weight loss added together,” Haney said. “We have the Bee’s Knees — that’s all your B vitamins for energy. Some of our nurses here work in the ER on the weekends, and they hit the Bee’s Knees before the weekend to help them get through their long shifts.”

  Buy Photo

Know a business that should be considered for a “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing mary.sharp@thegazette.com.