You need a new phone system.
The reasons are numerous: Your practice just broke up and you’ve rented new office space; or you and your med school friends are hanging up your first shingle to practice; or you are starting to hear staff comment that they are certain the Flintstones had a more current phone system than yours.
Regardless, buying a new phone system can be daunting. The acronyms and technical jargon seem endless, and you might feel like you are at the mercy of those who understand such technobabble. So, before you pay too much, let’s take a look at the options.
Most good systems are “scalable,” meaning they can be expanded over time. However, system vendors often offer a few different types to cover different-sized organizations.
For instance, a vendor may offer one system that is scalable from four to 25 handsets, with capacity for two to six lines for inbound/outbound dialing. That same vendor may also offer a system that is scalable from 25 to 400 handsets, with the capacity for up to 60+ lines for inbound/outbound dialing.
Fundamentally, a phone system, large or small, ends up being priced on a few key values:
Some useful terminology
PBX: Usually short for “Private Branch Exchange,” this is the core component that all handsets are connected back to via direct wiring (except in VoIP applications). PBXs should always be connected to a backup power source that also provides protection from power surges, brownouts, or other electrical fluctuations. They should also always be installed in a dry, secure, temperature-controlled location.
Key system: Usually refers to the smaller, common phone systems familiar to most people. Key systems usually have a button, or “key,” associated with each line. You can see if a line is in use if the key is lit/flashing/etc. Applicable for small practices and sometimes available as used/refurbished for a reasonable price.
Analog vs. digital: Stationsets are often referred to as either analog or digital. Analog stations are similar to your home phone, and in most cases are limited to basic features like hold, transfer, etc. Digital sets communicate in a more advanced way with a core PBX, and often have advanced features such as digital displays, touch screens, menu options, and programmable buttons.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol): Used to describe phone systems that operate over existing computer networks, VoIPs are usually deployed in medium to large environments. While eliminating the need for dedicated wiring, the fact that VoIP systems share their pipes with other data (such as e-mail) on your network can require advanced setup both for the phone system and your computer networking hardware (routers and switches).
POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service): POTS lines are what most of us have in our homes. When buying smaller phone systems, sites often simply buy a few POTS lines.
PRI (Primary Rate Interface): The PRI is a special line that is the equivalent of 23 voice channel POTS, but is usually cheaper. If your practice is so large that it requires more than 15 to 20 inbound/outbound lines, consider moving up to a PRI instead of using POTS lines. Using a PRI requires your PBX to have a PRI module installed (not all systems support PRI use).
