Meet Stephanie Miles of Smith’s Primary Care and Wellness & IV SMiles Hydration & Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Miles. 

Hi Stephanie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I grew up with my father suffering from various health conditions, including uncontrolled diabetes and seizures. When I was in high school, he started calling me “his nurse” because I would be the one caring for him, taking him to appointments, etc. I quickly realized nursing was my calling and something he saw in me way before I could see it myself. I enrolled at UNCG in 2006, declaring nursing as my major, and later transferred to Winston Salem State University, graduating with my BSN in 2011. I started my nursing career in the emergency room of a level-one trauma center. After nine years there, I wanted more. I wanted to develop relationships with my patients and witness the outcomes of all my interventions. I decided to further my education and obtain my master’s degree specializing in adult gerontology primary care. My overall goal was to open my own primary care practice, which led me to opening an IV hydration practice first, followed by a direct primary care practice. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Opening IV SMiles Hydration and Wellness first allowed me to get my feet wet in the business world. As a person who has never started or owned a business before, IV hydration was low cost, low risk and low overhead. I truly stepped out on faith and went for it. At the time, there was only one other hydration business in town. Due to the success of the IV business, I was able to start Smith’s Primary Care and Wellness one year later. Overall, it has been a smooth road due to having a great support system and networking with other providers in surrounding cities who have similar practices. The toughest part overall is introducing new concepts to a city that is so unfamiliar. Smith’s PCW is the first direct primary care practice in Winston Salem, and IV vitamin hydration is still not well known to many. I actually have a lot more work to do in the city as far as bringing more awareness to these types of services. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Smith’s Primary Care and Wellness, PLLC & IV SMiles Hydration & Wellness, PLLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a board-certified nurse practitioner and owner of an IV hydration business and primary care practice. IV SMiles is an alternative wellness service offering IV vitamin drips to help with a variety of conditions and symptoms. Vitamin drips can help boost energy, the immune system, metabolism, rehydrate, and improve overall health and wellness. IV SMiles is actually short for my name, Stephanie Miles. When I worked in the ER, I signed my name S. Miles, so everyone started calling me Smiles. I felt that would be the perfect name for the IV business, and it was easy to incorporate the needle and iv pole using letters of my name for the logo. All of my clients love the business name and logo, and it makes me feel good to have come up with the idea myself. 

Smith’s Primary and Wellness is actually a joint venture with my big sister, Cherese Blue. I started the direct primary care portion of the business this year, and she will add on mental health services in 2023. Smith is our maiden name. The logo has a stethoscope which represents me and primary care, and a brain which represents her and mental health. The two of us together will be helping our community physically, mentally, and emotionally. That is something that is well needed, and we’re honored to be able to make an impact and a difference in how healthcare overall is viewed and received. 

What sets me apart from others is my personality and my passion. I meet no strangers; drip clients, and patients become like family early on. All of my clients know I truly care, love my job, and want what’s best for them. While most IV hydration businesses lean more to a med spa and aesthetic type setting, I paired IV Smiles with primary care, leaning more towards a medical and wellness type setting. The public often thinks of IV vitamin hydration as “hangover drips.” While that type of drip is offered, it’s actually my least utilized drip. I have clients with chronic conditions, autoimmune disorders, malabsorption issues, etc., so the majority of my drips are helping with symptoms associated with various conditions. I love being able to help individuals in an alternative and holistic way. 

Direct primary care is a membership-based model of care, where the patient pays a flat low monthly fee and have direct access to me as their nurse practitioner. They receive unlimited visits, no copays, significantly discounted labs and prescriptions, same and next-day appointments. I do not bill any insurance, and their monthly subscription covers their care. Patients are put first and allowed longer visit times. I am proud to be the first in the city to offer this model of care and am looking forward to informing many more people about Smith’s PCW and what all we have to offer. IV hydration, direct primary care, and soon mental health counseling, all in one location, is definitely a game changer and a huge asset to Winston Salem, NC, and surrounding areas. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t think of my success as luck; if so, it would definitely be good luck, but my success is through God and favor. You know the saying, “favor ain’t fair.?” Well, it’s favor all around me. Everything I have and have accomplished, I spoke it, I wrote it down, I prayed about it. If you would have met me 3 years ago, I would have never thought I’d be in the position I’m in, owning two businesses and being a trailblazer and leader in my community. Honestly, in life and in business, all of these accomplishments are not from luck. They are from hard work, dedication, perseverance, favor, and just having the guts to step out there and try; I’m not lucky; I’m loved, I’m trusted, I’m believed in by my peers, family, friends, and community. 

Pricing:

• IV drips range from $130-$500
• Primary Care price based on age: $65-$85/month

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ivsmileshydration.com ; www.smithspcw.com
• Instagram: @ivsmileshydration ; @smithspcw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivsmileshydration/ ; https://www.facebook.com/smithspcw/ 

Image Credits
Sherrie Justiniano