CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for medical laboratories in Nashville, TN
Medical laboratories in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area: 155 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 23-person team.
- Establishments
- 155CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,612mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.2U.S. 4.9
- Rank
- 22nd of 485areas by count
The medical laboratory market in Nashville, TN
County Business Patterns counts 155 medical laboratories (NAICS 621511, Medical Laboratories) in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area for 2023. They employed 3,612 people in mid-March and paid $245.8 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 22nd out of 485 areas with published figures for medical laboratories.
Measured against its 2.2 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 7.2 medical laboratories per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 4.9, so Nashville, TN is 47.4% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 23.3 employees, compared with 14.0 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $68,041, 8.2% below the national $74,156.
| Measure | Nashville, TN | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 155 | 506 | 16,635 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,612 (moderate noise) | 6,963 | 232,333 |
| Annual payroll | $245,765,000 (moderate noise) | $444,313,000 (moderate noise) | $17,228,940,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 23.3 | 13.8 | 14.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $68,041 | $63,811 | $74,156 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.2 | 7.0 | 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 Nashville, TN
Of the medical laboratories in Nashville, TN that had employees in March 2023, 74.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 69.4%). 83.0% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 114 | 74.5% | 69.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 13 | 8.5% | 13.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 7 | 4.6% | 7.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 11 | 7.2% | 4.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 8 | 5.2% | 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.
Calls a medical laboratory in Nashville, TN has to catch
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 Nashville, TN:
- A courier calls to confirm a pickup.
- A patient calls to ask whether fasting is required before a blood draw.
- A patient calls to ask about walk-in hours.
What medical laboratories text about
Labs use texting mainly for hours, location and preparation reminders.
Texts sent from a local business number in Nashville, TN have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
What a phone system costs a medical laboratory in Nashville, TN
The average medical laboratory in Nashville, TN has 23.3 employees, so a 23-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 23 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $690.00 a month and 23 on Ooma Office Pro cost $573.85. Callata comes to $459.00 a month for 23 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,772 less than RingCentral for a medical laboratory in Nashville, TN of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $529.00 | $6,348.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $573.85 | $6,886.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $621.00 | $7,452.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $690.00 | $8,280.00 |
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 Nashville, TN
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 615 has the most, with 716 of 937 exchanges (76%). A local number lets patients and providers in Nashville, TN call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 615 | 716 | Central | 1954 | 629 |
| 629 | 174 | Central | 2015 | 615 |
| 931 | 47 | Eastern and Central | 1997 | none |
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.
Setting up Callata for a medical laboratory in Nashville, TN
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Nashville, TN is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–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 Nashville, TN?
Census County Business Patterns counted 155 medical laboratories in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area in 2023. They employed 3,612 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 23-person medical laboratory?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 23 users cost $690.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $573.85 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $459.00.
What area code should a medical laboratory in Nashville, TN use?
Area code 615 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 629 and 931. 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.