How to Find a Medical Director for Your IV Therapy Business (and Good Faith Exams)

Most IV therapy businesses need a medical director. You can find one through a telehealth platform, a local doctor, or a medspa attorney referral. Expect to pay $500 to $2,000 per month.

If you are an RN, esthetician, or non-doctor owner, a medical director is not optional in most states. This step makes your business legal. 



This guide covers what a medical director does. It covers where to find one and what to pay. It also explains how the Good Faith Exam works. 

A medical director is a doctor (MD or DO) who watches over the medical side of your business. They are not your boss. They do not run your daily work. But they make the medical side of your business legal. 

Here is what they do: 

• Sign your standing orders. A standing order tells your nurses what IVs and additives they can give. It sets the doses. It says what to avoid. Your medical director writes and signs these. 
• Review and update your safety rules. These rules cover what to do if a patient has a reaction. They say when to turn away a client. They cover how to record each visit. 
• Provide prescribing rights. Some IV additives are prescription-only. Think Zofran (anti-nausea) or Toradol (pain relief). Your medical director's license makes it legal to use them. 
• Conduct or approve Good Faith Exams. Before each patient gets an IV, a provider must check their health history. Your medical director can do this or assign it to someone else. 

What they are NOT responsible for: 

• Scheduling your nurses. 
• Running your marketing. 
• Managing your business finances. 
• Being on-site for every treatment. 

Think of your medical director as the medical anchor. You run the business. They keep it medically safe. 

See also: Can a Nurse Own an IV Therapy Business? and our State Legal Requirements guide. 

Do You Always Need One?

It depends on who you are and where you work. 

You almost certainly need one if you are: 

• An RN or LPN. 
• A non-clinician (business owner with no medical license). 
• An esthetician or wellness owner. 

You may not need one if you are: 

• A nurse practitioner (NP) in a state that lets NPs work on their own. 
• A doctor who owns and runs the business yourself. 

SingleAim Health notes that NPs and PAs in those states can often work without a doctor. But they still need to follow their state's rules. 

Even if you are an NP, check your state's rules. Some states still need doctor sign-off for certain IV additives. 

The American IV Association says most IV businesses should work with a medical director. It adds credibility and legal protection. 

What happens if you skip this step? 



You are giving medical care without proper sign-off. Risks include loss of your nursing license, state board review, and forced closure. Don't skip it. 

Where to Find a Medical Director

You have four main options. 

1. Telehealth Medical Director Platforms 

These platforms match you with doctors who work with wellness businesses. They know the IV therapy world. Setup is fast. 

• MedicalDirectorCo focuses on IV therapy and medspa businesses. They handle the paperwork and the matching. 
• LocumTele is a telehealth platform. It connects IV business owners with doctors. Good for owners in more than one state. 

Pros: Fast, low friction, doctor already knows IV therapy rules. Cons: Monthly fee can be at the higher end of the range. 

2. Local Doctor Outreach 

You can contact local family doctors, urgent care doctors, or emergency medicine MDs directly. Many are open to a monthly fee. 

How to approach them: 

• Explain the business model in plain terms. 
• Show them your standing orders template and safety rules. 
• Be clear that you are handling all business work. 
• Offer a fair monthly rate. 

Pros: Can be cheaper. You build a real local bond. Cons: Takes more time. Many local doctors don't know the model and say no. 

3. IV Therapy Groups and Networks 

The American IV Association can connect you with resources. Industry Facebook groups and IV therapy forums often have referrals from other owners. 

4. Health Law Attorney Referrals 

If you are already working with a medspa or health law attorney, ask for a referral. Attorneys in this area often know doctors who serve as medical directors for many businesses. 

What to Look for When Vetting a Medical Director 

Not every willing doctor is a good fit. Here is what to check. 

Must-haves: 

• Active medical license in your state (no issues or probation). 
• Comfortable with wellness medicine (not just hospital care). 
• Willing to review and sign your standing orders and safety rules. 
• Responds to calls and messages fast (you may need to reach them quickly). 

Good to have: 

• Has worked with IV or medspa businesses before. 
• Knows how telehealth GFE reviews work. 
• Licensed in more than one state if you plan to expand. 

Red flags: 

• Has issues on their license (check your state medical board's public lookup tool). 
• Refuses to review or update safety rules. 
• Wants a share of your business instead of a fee. 
• Charges more than $3,000 per month for a solo mobile setup. 
• Won't talk between monthly check-ins. 

LocumTele says to verify every doctor's license on the state medical board website before you sign anything. 

What Medical Directors Charge: Cost Table

Pricing varies by state, the doctor's background, and the services they provide. 

Sources: MedicalDirectorCo, LocumTele. 

Red flag: More than $3,000 per month for a solo mobile setup is above market. Walk away or negotiate. 



Budget this as a fixed monthly cost. See our Mobile IV Therapy Startup Costs guide for the full picture. 

Standing Orders and Protocols: What Your Medical Director Must Sign

A standing order lets your nurses give IVs without the doctor present for each visit. 

Here is what a full standing order covers: 

• Fluid types allowed: Normal saline (NS), lactated Ringer's (LR), dextrose solutions. 
• Additives allowed: B12, B-complex, Vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, glutathione. 
• Prescription additives: Zofran, Toradol (these need doctor sign-off). 
• Dose limits: Maximum amounts for each additive. 
• Patient exclusion criteria: Who should NOT get treatment (for example, those with certain heart conditions, kidney disease, or pregnancy). 
• Emergency steps: What to do if a patient has a reaction. 

Your medical director writes or reviews these. They sign off. Your nurses follow them. 

Get your standing orders reviewed by a health law attorney too. Marti Law Group says to have both a medical director and an attorney review your safety rules before launch. 

The Good Faith Exam: What It Is and Why It Matters 

A Good Faith Exam (GFE) is a medical check done before a patient gets IV therapy. It is not just a form. It is a real health review. 



The purpose: make sure the treatment is right for that patient. 

A provider reviews: 

• The patient's current health conditions. 
• Medications they are taking. 
• Allergies. 
• Any reasons IV therapy might not be safe for them. 

This protects the patient and protects your business. 

Who Can Perform a Good Faith Exam? 

Telehealth Good Faith Exams 



Your medical director does not need to be in the room. Telehealth GFEs are legal in most states. They are widely used in mobile IV businesses. 

How it works: 

1. The patient fills out a digital health form before their visit. 
2. A doctor, NP, or PA reviews the form through a secure telehealth system. 
3. They approve treatment or flag concerns. 
4. The nurse gets the green light and proceeds. 

This can happen without a live video call in many states. 

Some medical director platforms include telehealth GFEs in their monthly fee. Others charge per review. Ask upfront before you sign a contract. 

Marti Law Group calls the GFE a core legal need. Skipping it puts you at legal risk. Learn more on OMG's Good Faith Exam and Medical Direction page. 

How to Keep the Relationship Healthy 

A good medical director bond is a real business asset. Here is how to keep it strong. 



Talk regularly: 

• Schedule a short monthly check-in (15 to 30 minutes). 
• Share any patient incidents right away. 
• Ask questions before you act if something feels unclear. 

Annual safety review: 

• Review your standing orders every 12 months. 
• Update them when you add new services or additives. 
• Keep a signed, dated copy on file. 

What to do if your medical director leaves: 

Have a plan ready. Keep copies of all signed orders. Start finding a new one at least 30 days before the deal ends. Do not operate without medical sign-off during the gap.

Frequently Asked Questions

How OMG Marketing Can Help You 

You do not have to find a medical director on your own. OMG Marketing provides the whole medical side for mobile IV businesses. 



• Medical direction. We connect you with a licensed medical director and set up your standing orders. 
• Good faith exams. We run the good faith exams your patients need before each treatment. 
• Dispatch services. We answer your phones and book your jobs so you never miss a lead. 
• Marketing. We grow your client base with local SEO, Google Ads, web design, and content. 

See everything we do for mobile IV businesses at OMG Marketing Co.. Book a free call and we will help you take the next step. 

Sources

• MedicalDirectorCo: IV Therapy Medical Director Requirements. 
• LocumTele: How to Find a Medical Director for IV Hydration Business. 
• American IV Association: Do You Need a Medical Director for IV Therapy?. 
• Marti Law Group: IV Therapy and Compliance at Medical Spas and Practices. 
• SingleAim Health: How to Start Your Own IV Hydration Clinic: A Guide for NPs and PAs.