CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for medical laboratories in Little Rock, AR
Medical laboratories in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area: 45 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 20-person team.
- Establishments
- 45CBP 2023
- Employees
- 914mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 5.8U.S. 4.9
- Rank
- 67th of 485areas by count
Medical laboratories in Little Rock, AR by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 45 establishments classified as Medical Laboratories (NAICS 621511) in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area. Together they reported 914 mid-March employees and $69.2 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 67th of the 485 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 769,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 5.8 medical laboratories per 100,000 people, 19.6% above the national rate of 4.9. Establishments average 20.3 employees, 45.4% above the U.S. average of 14.0. Payroll per employee comes to $75,728, 2.1% above the national $74,156.
| Measure | Little Rock, AR | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 45 | 128 | 16,635 |
| Mid-March employees | 914 | 1,456 | 232,333 |
| Annual payroll | $69,215,000 | $97,720,000 | $17,228,940,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 20.3 | 11.4 | 14.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $75,728 | $67,115 | $74,156 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 5.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at medical laboratories in Little Rock, AR
Of the medical laboratories in Little Rock, AR that had employees in March 2023, 48.8% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 69.4%). 69.8% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 21 | 48.8% | 69.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 9 | 20.9% | 13.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 11.6% | 7.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 7.0% | 4.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 5 | 11.6% | 4.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for medical laboratories in Little Rock, AR
Labs answer calls from both patients and ordering providers, and the questions differ: hours and preparation instructions on one side, specimen and result status on the other. Routing those calls separately keeps both groups from waiting.
A few of the calls that come in to medical laboratories in Little Rock, AR:
- A courier calls to confirm a pickup.
- A provider calls to add a test to an existing order.
- A patient calls to ask whether fasting is required before a blood draw.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly about the next day's hours and preparation, which a clear greeting can answer.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for medical laboratories in Little Rock, AR
The average medical laboratory in Little Rock, AR has 20.3 employees, so a 20-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $499.00 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $600.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 20 people cost $399.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,412. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $399.00 | $4,788.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $380.00 | $4,560.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $460.00 | $5,520.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $499.00 | $5,988.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $540.00 | $6,480.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $600.00 | $7,200.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in Little Rock, AR
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 501 has the most, with 386 of 395 exchanges (98%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your patients and providers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | 386 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 870 | 9 | Central | 1997 | 327 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What medical laboratories in Little Rock, AR get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Little Rock, AR, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.
Frequently asked questions
How many medical laboratories are there in Little Rock, AR?
Census County Business Patterns counted 45 medical laboratories in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area in 2023. They employed 914 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 20-person medical laboratory?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 20 users cost $600.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $499.00 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $399.00.
What area code should a medical laboratory in Little Rock, AR use?
Area code 501 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 870. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a medical laboratory?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute. Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.