WALLA WALLA — For some, the only time they have ever had an IV drip was in the hospital, but Jonathan Liem, proprietor of Walla Walla Drip IV, is redefining that experience.

In the past few years, intravenous vitamin treatments have exploded in popularity, with celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen and Gwyneth Paltrow taking part in the trend, and now Walla Walla and the surrounding Valley can, too.

Beyond a growing trend, it is a growing industry. According to BCC Research, the global market for IV therapy will grow from almost $40.7 billion in 2018 to $54.5 billion in 2023.

“It is definitely a niche thing to be in,” Liem said. “I knew about this business for a while and thought I should see if it could work out.”

Before starting Walla Walla Drip IV, Liem said, he was a travel nurse throughout the duration of the pandemic, splitting time between Portland and Seattle. At the end of everything, Liem decided to take a break from working as a travel nurse because he was no longer needed.

Starting the drip IV business hasn’t been all that he thought it would be. There was a lot more paperwork and administrative points to tackle.

“It has been a wonderful and yet crazy ride,” he said. “I’ve gone from dealing with patients to dealing with my laptop for 14 hours a day.”

Liem works with a team of registered nurses to administer IV drip therapy through a liter of saline and a cocktail of essential vitamins, amino acids and energy boosters. The mixture of fluids is delivered through a needle into a vein.

He said the idea is to get vitamins and minerals directly where they need to go through the veins, bypassing the digestive system.

Walla Walla Drip IV currently offers 11 varieties of vitamin blends created to target anything from athletic recovery and hangovers to brain function and migraines. The prices for each session range from $100 to $250, depending on which blend is administered.

Each IV session takes about an hour to 90 minutes. Bruising or tenderness sometimes occurs after receiving treatment.

When he started the drip IV business, Liem said, there were a couple of business models available. There is a single doctor model where the business works under a local doctor, or the business can work with a larger franchise, which is the model that Liem chose.

Walla Walla Drip IV is the local chapter of Hydreight, which is the medical network that provides mobile IV health and wellness services. The company has a 503B pharmacy license under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and is a U.S. certified e-script and telemedicine provider, allowing it to provide services in all 50 states.

“The franchises provide standing orders, telemedicine doctors, access to a pharmacy,” he said. “They do everything from billing to handling malpractice insurance.”

Liem said getting those services is one of the main reasons he went with a franchise.

According to the company’s website, all service providers that use Hydreight are independent contractors who receive software training. Hydreight covers medical liability insurance with 100% medical malpractice coverage as well as 503B pharmacy ordering and delivery.

Rolling up the sleeves

Liem said one of the best aspects of drip IV therapy — in the case of Walla Walla Drip IV — is that he, or another certified staff member, can meet to administer a treatment practically anywhere.

“The model of Walla Walla Drip IV is to be mobile,” he said. “We can come to your house or meet you by the pool, or in the field or at a winery. We can meet you anywhere that works for you.”

It is as simple as logging on to the Hydreight app, selecting an IV drip, scheduling with an IV specialist and paying for the service. Think Uber or Postmates, but with vitamin IV infusions.

Liem said Walla Walla Drip IV is the only business of its kind in the Walla Walla Valley. They also go to events such as concerts or rodeos such as the Pendleton Round-Up.

“I had a chance to work on some people who were in the rodeo, and they told me they get IV treatments all the time,” Liem said. “I really did not expect to hear that.”

He said they travel all over the Walla Walla Valley and Tri-Cities area and can also work across state lines.

When using a needle, safety, comfort and customer service are the top priorities, Leim said. They take vitals readings before starting an IV drip service and use a numbing agent to lessen the pain of a needle prick. They also offer Zofran, which is an anti-nausea medication.

For Liem, Walla Walla Drip IV is not just a hobby business. He said Walla Walla Drip IV is on a nice growth trajectory and he hopes to get more clients involved.

”I genuinely love helping people feel better,” he said. “That’s the best job in the world.”

Walla Walla Drip IV can be contacted at 302-526-0935 or at wallawalladripiv@gmail.com. For more information visit wallawalladripiv.com.