CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for medical laboratories in Wichita, KS
Medical laboratories in the Wichita, KS metro area: 30 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 6-person team.
- Establishments
- 30CBP 2023
- Employees
- 179mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.5U.S. 4.9
- Rank
- 96th of 485areas by count
How many medical laboratories are in Wichita, KS?
There were 30 medical laboratories in the Wichita, KS metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 621511, Medical Laboratories). Together they reported 179 mid-March employees and $11.6 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 96th of the 485 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 661,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 4.5 medical laboratories per 100,000 people, 7.2% below the national rate of 4.9. Establishments average 6.0 employees, 57.3% below the U.S. average of 14.0. Payroll per employee comes to $65,011, 12.3% below the national $74,156.
| Measure | Wichita, KS | Kansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 30 | 162 | 16,635 |
| Mid-March employees | 179 | 3,789 (moderate noise) | 232,333 |
| Annual payroll | $11,637,000 | $265,328,000 | $17,228,940,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.0 | 23.4 | 14.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $65,011 | $70,026 | $74,156 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.5 | 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.
Establishment size: medical laboratories in Wichita, KS
Of the medical laboratories in Wichita, KS that had employees in March 2023, 71.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 69.4%). 89.3% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 20 | 71.4% | 69.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 5 | 17.9% | 13.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 3 | 10.7% | 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 Wichita, KS 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 Wichita, KS:
- A patient calls to ask about walk-in hours.
- A provider calls to add a test to an existing order.
- A courier calls to confirm a pickup.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly about the next day's hours and preparation, which a clear greeting can answer.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for medical laboratories in Wichita, KS
The average medical laboratory in Wichita, KS has 6.0 employees, so a 6-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $149.70 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $180.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 6 people cost $119.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $732. 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 | $119.00 | $1,428.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $114.00 | $1,368.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $138.00 | $1,656.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $149.70 | $1,796.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $162.00 | $1,944.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $180.00 | $2,160.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Wichita, KS
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 316 has the most, with 336 of 381 exchanges (88%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 316 | 336 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 620 | 41 | Central and Mountain | 2001 | none |
| 785 | 4 | Central and Mountain | 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 Wichita, KS
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 Wichita, KS, 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 Wichita, KS?
Census County Business Patterns counted 30 medical laboratories in the Wichita, KS metro area in 2023. They employed 179 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 6-person medical laboratory?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 6 users cost $180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $119.00.
What area code should a medical laboratory in Wichita, KS use?
Area code 316 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 620 and 785. 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.