Pinterest, the photo-sharing social network, just keeps growing. Currently it has over 70 million users and 2.5 billion monthly page views. Even bigger than those stats is the amount of time the average user spends on the site: a whopping 14.2 minutes each visit, an eternity in the Internet world.

Healthcare and hospital marketers need a presence on this booming social media network. The reason: your decision makers are living on there. Pinterest users have the strongest representation of the healthcare decision-maker demographic – its users are young (25-34), female (80 percent), middle-class (only 30% have income over $100k), and they have children (50 percent). All are highly influential people when it comes to making healthcare marketing decisions for themselves and their families.

How best to use Pinterest? You don’t need to re-invent the wheel. All you need is good visuals and creative ideas. Here’s how some top facilities are using Pinterest:

  • Baylor Health in North Texas has close to 1,700 followers and utilizes Pinterest in a number of wellness ways. For example, one board is dedicated to healthy living tips and another to healthy recipes. They also have a board with interactive health quizzes, which links back to the Baylor website.
  • Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, uses their Pinterest page as a resource guide for families and friends. For example, one pin board showcases different gift ideas for young patients. Another showcases case studies and shows photos and stories of kids who were cared for by the hospital. This may influence a parent who is pondering the best hospital for their child.
  • Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio, uses Pinterest as an awareness tool. One board showcases their employees and their passion for their jobs. They also showcase upcoming events and fundraisers.

Creating meaningful boards on Pinterest can enhance a user’s experience and provide a bigger potential of your name and brand going viral.