CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for nursing care facilities in Chicago, IL-IN
Nursing care facilities in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area: 454 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 94-person team.
- Establishments
- 454CBP 2023
- Employees
- 42,621mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.8U.S. 5.3
- Rank
- 3rd of 732areas by count
The nursing care facility market in Chicago, IL-IN
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 454 establishments classified as Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (NAICS 623110) in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. Together they reported 42,621 mid-March employees and $2.1 billion of payroll for the year. That ranks 3rd of the 732 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 9.4 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 4.8 nursing care facilities per 100,000 people, 9.5% below the national rate of 5.3. Establishments average 93.9 employees, 19.3% above the U.S. average of 78.7. Payroll per employee comes to $48,130, 8.2% above the national $44,479.
| Measure | Chicago, IL-IN | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 454 | 793 | 18,126 |
| Mid-March employees | 42,621 | 66,392 | 1,426,754 |
| Annual payroll | $2,051,359,000 | $2,907,988,000 | $63,460,785,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 93.9 | 83.7 | 78.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $48,130 | $43,800 | $44,479 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.8 | 6.2 | 5.3 |
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: nursing care facilities in Chicago, IL-IN
Of the nursing care facilities in Chicago, IL-IN that had employees in March 2023, 13.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 12.9%). 16.7% 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 | 62 | 13.7% | 12.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 14 | 3.1% | 4.0% |
| 10–19 employees | 19 | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 31 | 6.8% | 14.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 328 | 72.2% | 63.5% |
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 nursing care facility in Chicago, IL-IN has to catch
Skilled nursing facilities field admission inquiries, family calls and calls from hospitals and physicians, and each needs to reach a different department. Reliable routing keeps admission calls from waiting behind routine questions. That holds for nursing care facilities in Chicago, IL-IN as much as anywhere.
Calls a nursing care facility in Chicago, IL-IN might handle in a typical week include:
- A family member calls for an update on a resident.
- A pharmacy calls to confirm medication orders.
- A family calls to schedule a care conference.
Calls after closing time
Facilities run around the clock, so after-hours calls need to reach the nursing station or a supervisor rather than a voicemail box.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
What a phone system costs a nursing care facility in Chicago, IL-IN
The average nursing care facility in Chicago, IL-IN has 93.9 employees, so a 94-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, 94 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $2,820.00 a month and 94 on Ooma Office Pro cost $2,345.30. On Callata the same 94 people cost $1,879.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $11,292. 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 | $1,879.00 | $22,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,786.00 | $21,432.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $2,162.00 | $25,944.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $2,345.30 | $28,143.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $2,538.00 | $30,456.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $2,820.00 | $33,840.00 |
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 Chicago, IL-IN
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 630 has the most, with 778 of 3,886 exchanges (20%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your residents and families recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 630 | 778 | Central | 1996 | 331 |
| 847 | 766 | Central | 1996 | 224 |
| 708 | 748 | Central | 1989 | 464 |
| 224 | 581 | Central | 2002 | 847 |
| 219 | 369 | Eastern and Central | 1948 | none |
| 815 | 292 | Central | 1947 | 779 |
| 331 | 224 | Central | 2007 | 630 |
| 779 | 128 | Central | 2007 | 815 |
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 nursing care facilities
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 Chicago, IL-IN, 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 nursing care facilities are there in Chicago, IL-IN?
Census County Business Patterns counted 454 nursing care facilities in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area in 2023. They employed 42,621 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 94-person nursing care facility?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 94 users cost $2,820.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $2,345.30 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $1,879.00.
What area code should a nursing care facility in Chicago, IL-IN use?
Area code 630 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 847 and 708. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a nursing care facility?
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.