Estimating internet bandwidth for cloud EHR and VoIP starts with the needs of each clinic location, not just the practice’s total number of providers. Cloud applications, simultaneous phone calls, video visits, file transfers, and other online activity all use the same connection. A connection that seems adequate during a quiet period may struggle when staff and patients are using it at the same time.
There is no single bandwidth figure that fits every multi-provider practice. Use your EHR vendor’s requirements as the starting point, account for concurrent calls and other peak-time workloads, then check how the connection performs during normal busy hours.
Start with the EHR vendor’s requirements
Cloud EHR applications can have different network requirements, so use your specific vendor’s guidance rather than relying on a generic estimate. Confirm whether its recommendation applies to the whole location, individual users, or a defined clinic size. Also ask whether the requirements assume that other internet activity is limited.
AdvancedMD gives an example of a five-user practice needing at least 40 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload for its applications; the vendor says other network activity requires additional bandwidth. (AdvancedMD system requirements)
Healthquest recommends 30 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload for clinics with five or fewer staff, and 100 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload for clinics with 6–19 staff. (Healthquest cloud information for IT vendors) These examples differ, which is why it is important to check your own EHR provider’s requirements and account for the work happening at your location.
Vendor figures are useful starting points, not a guarantee of good performance under every condition. Consider whether staff use several cloud applications at once, whether the clinic runs video visits, and whether other systems send or receive large amounts of data. A practice moving workloads to the cloud may also find it helpful to review its cloud migration planning alongside connectivity needs.
Estimate demand separately for each location
For a multi-location practice, prepare a separate estimate for every clinic. Locations may have different staff patterns, services, equipment, internet providers, and peak workloads. A total across all sites can hide the fact that one location has less capacity or heavier demand than another.
For each location, list the main sources of internet use:
- Cloud EHR and practice applications: Use the requirements provided by each application vendor and clarify what those figures cover.
- VoIP calls: Estimate expected simultaneous calls, not the total number of phone extensions. The busiest period matters more than a quiet average.
- Video visits: Include the number of visits likely to overlap and check the video platform’s network guidance.
- Imaging and file transfers: Identify whether staff send or retrieve large files over the internet, and when that activity occurs.
- Other shared traffic: Account for cloud backups, software updates, guest access, and other services that use the same connection.
This list helps identify competing workloads, but it does not replace testing. If a workload can be scheduled outside the clinic’s busiest hours, that may reduce overlap. Where traffic cannot be moved, include it in the capacity discussion.
Count simultaneous calls, not phone extensions
VoIP bandwidth estimates depend on the phone system, codec, and call scenario. A clinic with many extensions may have only a portion of them in use at once, while a smaller team may experience a busy period with several concurrent calls. Ask the phone provider which configuration applies and how it measures call bandwidth in both directions.
RingCentral lists 87 Kbps transmit and receive bandwidth per desk or conference phone using G.711; the vendor notes that codec and call scenario affect actual use. (RingCentral bandwidth and network capacity assessment) Treat this as vendor-specific guidance, not a universal figure for every phone system. Confirm whether your own provider’s estimate accounts for the same codec and call setup.
Call quality can suffer even when a speed test appears satisfactory. Latency, packet loss, jitter, and congestion can affect real-time voice traffic. If calls become choppy or delayed during busy periods, review the connection and the local network rather than looking only at the advertised download speed.
Check upload speed as well as download speed
Download capacity supports information arriving at the clinic, while upload capacity supports information leaving it. Cloud EHR use involves two-way communication, and activities such as sending files, using video, or transferring backups can make upload capacity especially relevant. A connection with ample download capacity may still feel constrained if upload demand is high.
Record both download and upload performance when assessing a location. Compare those results with the application vendors’ requirements and consider what else was happening on the network at the time. For a closer look at application responsiveness and the network conditions affecting it, see this guide to EHR performance improvement.
Test during the clinic’s busy periods
A speed test taken during a quiet interval may not reflect the experience staff have when the clinic is active. Check performance during ordinary busy hours and note whether symptoms coincide with overlapping calls, video visits, file transfers, backups, or other activity. Ask staff which systems feel slow and when it occurs.
Review more than speed-test results. Network monitoring can help reveal periods of congestion and whether the issue appears to involve the internet connection, local network, or a particular workload. A useful review can include latency, packet loss, call quality, upload activity, and whether performance changes by location. Healthcare network monitoring can help practices make those patterns easier to assess.
Quality-of-service settings may help prioritize voice traffic over less time-sensitive traffic when a network is busy. They do not create more internet capacity, and they need to match the phone system and network configuration. Have the appropriate IT or voice provider review whether these settings are available and configured properly.
Build a practical per-location estimate
Use a simple worksheet for each site. Record the EHR and other cloud application requirements, the expected number of simultaneous calls, video and file-transfer activity, and any recurring upload-heavy tasks. Keep download and upload needs separate. Then compare the estimate with performance observed during busy periods and confirm the assumptions with each vendor.
If you manage several clinics, repeat the process site by site. Do not assume that capacity at one location can compensate for a connection that is strained elsewhere. Differences in staffing, call patterns, services, or local connectivity can lead to different needs. A review of the broader healthcare IT infrastructure plan can also help connect bandwidth decisions with other technology needs.
Frequently asked questions
How much bandwidth does a clinic need for a cloud EHR?
Start with the EHR vendor’s requirements for your application and clinic configuration. Add the effects of concurrent calls and other peak-time workloads, then verify performance during busy hours. Vendor examples vary, so a general figure should not replace application-specific guidance.
Should a practice calculate internet needs per location?
Yes. Estimate each clinic separately because staff activity, services, connectivity, and peak workloads may differ across locations. A practice-wide total may not show which site needs attention.
Do video visits and imaging change the estimate?
They can. Video and large file transfers add network activity, and their effect depends on how many occur at once and how the systems are configured. Include these workloads in the location estimate and check the relevant vendors’ guidance.
Can quality-of-service settings fix poor call quality?
They may help prioritize voice traffic when the network is busy, but they cannot add capacity. Check the connection’s performance and the phone system configuration before treating prioritization as the solution.
Plan for real clinic usage
The most useful bandwidth estimate combines vendor requirements, concurrent call demand, upload and download activity, and measurements from busy periods at each location. If you want help reviewing these factors, Zevonix offers a free IT assessment. You can get in touch by calling (904) 658-0777.