CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for medical laboratories in Rhode Island
61 medical laboratories operated in Rhode Island in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 61CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,061mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 5.5U.S. 4.9
- State rank
- 39th of 51by count
The medical laboratory industry in Rhode Island
Rhode Island had 61 medical laboratories in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 621511, Medical Laboratories). They employed 1,061 people in mid-March and reported $59.3 million in annual payroll. That is the 39th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Medical laboratories make up 0.21% of the 29,510 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Rhode Island has 5.5 medical laboratories, 12.1% above the national rate of 4.9. The average establishment has 17.4 employees against 14.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $55,919, 24.6% below the U.S. figure of $74,156.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 61 | 16,635 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,061 (moderate noise) | 232,333 |
| Annual payroll | $59,330,000 (moderate noise) | $17,228,940,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 17.4 | 14.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $55,919 | $74,156 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 5.5 | 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.
Where medical laboratories in Rhode Island are concentrated
Census published medical laboratory counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of Rhode Island. The largest is Providence, RI-MA, with 94 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 94 | 1,392 | 5.5 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at medical laboratories in Rhode Island
100.0% of Rhode Island's medical laboratories with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 69.4% nationally. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 52 | 100.0% | 69.4% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 13.6% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 7.5% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 4.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 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.
What medical laboratories in Rhode Island use the phone for
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for medical laboratories in Rhode Island:
- A courier calls to confirm a pickup.
- A provider calls to add a test to an existing order.
- A physician's office calls about a specimen status.
Calls after closing time
After-hours calls are mostly about the next day's hours and preparation, which a clear greeting can answer.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Phone system pricing for a 17-person medical laboratory
Medical laboratories in Rhode Island average 17.4 employees, so the comparison uses a 17-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 17 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $510.00 a month and 17 on Ooma Office Pro cost $424.15. On Callata the same 17 people cost $339.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,052. 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 | $339.00 | $4,068.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $323.00 | $3,876.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $391.00 | $4,692.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $424.15 | $5,089.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $510.00 | $6,120.00 |
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.
Area codes in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your patients and providers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 581 | Eastern | 1947 | 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.
How Callata works for medical laboratories in Rhode Island
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.
If you already have a number in Rhode Island, 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 in Rhode Island?
61 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,061 people in mid-March.
Which Rhode Island metro area has the most medical laboratories?
Providence, RI-MA, with 94 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 17-person medical laboratory?
$510.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $424.15 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $339.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Rhode Island number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.