Written by Aimee Bradshaw Reviewed by James Macey Updated on April 7, 2020 On this page Why is Choosing the Right Hospital Phone System so Important? Who Supplies the Best Phone Systems for Hospitals? 1. Vonage Business Solutions 2. 8x8 3. RingCentral 4. Nextiva 5. GoTo VoIP or IP PBX – Which Hospital Phone System is Right for me? What is the Best Phone System for Hospitals? How We Ranked the Best Hospital Phone Systems Next Steps Expand Did You Know? Did you know there were over 35 million admissions to US hospitals in 2017 alone?How important do you think hospital phone systems were in helping teams manage the treatment of that many patients? We think they were pretty crucial. Why is Choosing the Right Hospital Phone System so Important?Phone systems play a huge part in both external and internal hospital communications; whether it’s staff calling their patients to tell them their results or doctors and nurses communicating between wards and departments.A good phone system, such as ones delivered through a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) provider, isn’t just about the hardware, though. Telephone system software is the beating heart of hospital communication, pumping comms to every corner of the network. That’s a big responsibility, so investing in the right system is crucial.However, no matter how clever the software is, it must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). So you’ll need to bear that in mind when you’re looking for your hospital phone system.Aside from compliance, what else should you be considering when you’re looking to invest in a suitable phone system for hospitals?Luckily, Expert Market is here to guide you to the vital signs. Eligible for Phone System Quotes? Click your state below to find out AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY Who Supplies the Best Phone Systems for Hospitals?We researched the best suppliers for hospital phone systems and discovered the top five phone systems for hospitals come from:Vonage Business Solutions8×8RingCentralNextivaGoTo 1. Vonage Business Solutions With over 400,000 customers, Vonage prides itself on its quality and affordability. Having transformed communications in the residential sector, the company moved its expertise to business, and is now growing at a rate of around 3,000 clients per month.Putting aside $600 million for new investments each year, Vonage is at the forefront of telecommunication technology and is well positioned to provide hospitals with fully integrated phone systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Read full Vonage review Top 3 Features1. SMS AlertsWith the integration of SMS alerts, the system can send automated text messages to patients, letting them know when their appointments are due. You can also use SMS to market your services to people living within a set distance from you.Mobility and ProductivityOn call doctors and nurses out in the field can use their Vonage number instead of their mobile number, meaning they never have to reveal their private one to patients. The Vonage system also enables them to access medical drives for accessing and recording data.CRM IntegrationIntegrate CRM systems such as Salesforce and Zendesk to improve patient experience. Staff on the telephones will be able to access their patient data and provide a more personalized, knowledgeable interaction. 2. 8×8 8×8 prides itself on being the world’s first Communications Cloud. By combining unified communications, team collaboration, contact centers and analytics, hospitals benefit from a fully connected communication system – perfect for patient relations. With over 50,000 business customers around the world, 8×8 is proven to be a solid choice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Read full 8x8 review Top 3 FeaturesBusiness Phone ServicesWith 8×8’s business phone services, you can ensure everyone stays connected, whether they’re on the wards or out visiting patients. Staff will be able to see who’s ‘online’ and either call or chat with the required medical person. Doctors can also set their availability, so they’re not interrupted in theater or when they’re consulting.Unified CommunicationsChat, web conference and document sharing mean medical staff can share their findings and surgery outcomes wherever they happen to be. Doctors can also hold video consultations with their patients, which could be more convenient for both parties.Cloud Contact CenterTake the pressure off receptionists by having patients automatically connect with the ward or person they require. All the necessary patient data is held securely on the Cloud Contact Center. Update it in real time to ensure medical staff have up-to-the-minute information on their patient. 3. RingCentral A market leader in the 2018 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service, RingCentral is well-placed to deliver superior communications technology. With Forbes placing it as one of the 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2016 and 2017, RingCentral has plenty of accolades to its name. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Read full RingCentral review Top 3 FeaturesHITRUST/CSF CertifiedThis certification will ensure your medical staff can exchange information on a secure platform on any device – handy if you’ve got a team out in the field. There are seven layers of data and physical security, while third party audits ensure the system never weakens.Communication Tool ConsolidationWith all communication tools grouped together in one software hub, voice calls, SMS/MMS, and fax are easy to set up, making it possible for hospitals to set up new clinics in weeks rather than months. Thanks to the app, medics can tap into the phone system and use their hospital number, rather than their private one.Reliable ServiceThanks to electronic prevention systems in its data centers, a RingCentral hospital phone system can withstand data loss or service interruption, which is important if your hospital sits within a natural disaster hotspot. 4. Nextiva Nextiva is a bit of a giant in the telecommunications world – there are over 150,000 customers on its books – but that doesn’t stop it from supplying superior customer service. Add to the mix Nextiva’s feature-filled software and you have yourself the ideal hospital phone system company. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Read full Nextiva review Top 3 FeaturesArizona-based Customer ServiceIf you’re looking for a company with a track record of providing superior customer service, Nextiva is for you. Its customer service department is based in Arizona and the team is available 24/7, which means there will always be someone on the end of the line, even halfway through the night shift.Mobile CommunicationNextiva enables doctors and nurses to stay in contact with other hospital staff wherever they happen to be via a mobile app. The app displays which colleagues are online and offline, ensuring surgeries and procedures aren’t interrupted.Security and ReliabilitySeven data centers and counting across the USA and Canada means you never have to worry about security breaches or inability to access records. Even if one data center is cut off due to a natural disaster, there’s at least six other backups. 5. GoTo GoTo holds a steady place in the telecommunications market. Its VoIP software boasts a tonne of handy features and if you’re having trouble making head or tail of anything, GoTo’s customer service team is ready and waiting to help. Having grown from a six-person company in 2006 to a team of over 700 today, you can tell that GoTo knows exactly what it’s doing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Read full GoTo review Top 3 FeaturesNetworkingCreate private groups on the GoTo app so surgeons and clinicians can share cases, feedback and recommendations. Keep up to date with your strategic communications, including the dishing out of relevant news pages and important medical announcements.Support CenterYou will be able to set up a support center where medical staff can find answers to frequently asked questions. Store knowledge base documents and education materials so there’s always easy access to information.Secure CollaborationWhether medics are working from a laptop, PC, tablet or mobile phone, they can stay in contact using the GoTo app. With communication so easy, medics can efficiently acquire all the information they need to effectively treat their patients. Compare prices from leading phone system suppliers Get free quotes VoIP or IP PBX – Which Hospital Phone System is Right for me?Both VoIP and IP PBX systems hook up to the internet to provide a range of communication services.These include:Call control and managementVoicemail and messagingWeb-based managementIntegrations of other software and hardwareAnalyticsHere’s some more info on VoIP vs IP PBX.What is VoIP?VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. It literally does what it says on the tin – it allows you to speak to people over the internetVoIP phones store all their data on the Cloud, which is hosted by your service providerHaving all of your data on a secure Cloud network pretty much guarantees that your data will never do a disappearing act – even in the event of a hurricane. This is because your data is backed up at another data center hundreds of miles away from the bad weather Pros Low setup costs Automatic software updates Less dependence on in-house resources Cons Service provider has control over your system Higher ongoing service costs ▶ Read more: What is VoIP? Everything you need to know What is IP PBX?IP PBX stands for Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange. It essentially gives you the best of both worlds – use the internet for communications, or use the local exchangeAn IP PBX system stores all of the data on the premises, which means you’ll have to dedicate a room to serversHosting the system on site means you have more control over the finer details. With a good tech team, you can create your own telecommunications solutions. And you don’t have the monthly hosting overheads Pros You’ll have full knowledge of your system Complete control and flexibility Create a bespoke communication solution Cons Higher setup costs Ongoing maintenance costs unpredictable What is the Best Phone System for Hospitals?The best phone system for hospitals should use the internet for communication. Both VoIP and IP PBX phone systems do that, so it’s up to you to weigh up the positives and negatives and match them to your requirements.Smaller hospitals may want to go for a VoIP system, just because they may not have an IT department there to look after an in-house server. A smaller hospital also may prefer easy-to-manage monthly installments instead of laying out one large sum.On the other hand, larger hospitals may prefer to have more control over their communication system. They may also want the backup of the local exchange just in case the Wi-Fi cuts out. How We Ranked the Best Hospital Phone SystemsWe've researched and tested 10 market-leading VoIP phone systems, evaluating them in terms of functionality, usability, cost and security options, so we can make the most useful recommendations to US businesses.Using our in-house research framework and ranking process, we evaluated each VoIP system across seven core categories of interest, each weighted differently, and then combined the results to come up with a final score.Our main testing categories for VoIP products and services are:Cost: The pricing structure associated with the VoIP service, such as monthly subscription fees, call rates, setup fees, hardware costs, and any additional charges for add-on features or services.Call features: The functionalities and capabilities offered by the VoIP service, including basic features such as call forwarding and voicemail, as well as advanced features like auto-attendant and conference calling.External connections: The VoIP service's ability to connect and integrate with external systems or devices, such as compatibility with existing phone systems or integration with mobile devices.Customer support: The assistance and resources provided by the VoIP service provider to customers, including technical support, online resources, and access to customer support representatives.Security options: The measures and features implemented by the VoIP service to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and protection of voice communications and data.Scalability: The ability of the VoIP service to accommodate the growth and changing needs of an organization, e.g. capacity to handle a growing number of users or support multiple locations.Reputation: External customer opinion; the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular VoIP product – the market position and reputation a VoIP software holds. Next StepsWant to find out how much hospital phone systems cost? Most providers will quote prices with or without hardware. Find out how much a phone system will cost you by filling in our form at the top of the page. Answer a couple of questions and our top suppliers that match your requirements will be in touch. Compare prices from leading phone system suppliers Get free quotes Written by: Aimee Bradshaw Writer and researcher Aimee is Expert Market’s resident telephone systems and point of sale go-to. If she’s not writing about business products, you’ll find her daydreaming about dog walking on Dorset beaches. Reviewed by: James Macey Senior Business Software Researcher James draws on his 4+ years experience as a researcher to offer specialized advice on a wide range of categories from CRM to Fleet Management. He believes all businesses can grow if they use the right tools and services.