Yeah - there is a way, but it is a gigantic PITA and I've never tried to do it because it's a waste of time - those numbers you think they are calling from are all random and faked. You have to build a blocked number table and then check numbers against it on the way in.

All hope is not lost though, the FCC and the Telco providers are developing a program code named SHAKEN / STIR that is supposed to go live by the end of the year and is designed to authenticate the outgoing number of the call to prove they are authorized to send from that number.

https://about.att.com/story/2019/anti_robocall.htm...

Don Bruechert, Voice Comm Analyst II
CareTech Solutions @ Holy Family Memorial
Manitowoc, WI, USA

Thanks Don.

Search this forum for AMO
CLIMA

Example:

https://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=175400...

Do patient rooms need direct dial access from the ourside world? (DDI / DID)
When we used to have them they were non Direct Dial numbers.

Our hospital makes the switchboard staff do 8 different things besides answering the phones, and at any one time they are ignoring at least 6 things they can't do all at once, and there is no way in ... heck ... the nurses are going to be a personal answering service for the patients - all of our rooms have DID numbers in them, and I stopped blocking long distance on them because our LD rates are so low now it's not worth the hassle. I've actually been trying to get rid of default patient room phones and have them placed only by request. Most people prefer to use their cell phones anyway, and people know those numbers. Also less of them get broken, and it's easier on the housekeepers (except they whine because they have to sweep around the cords)...

Don Bruechert, Voice Comm Analyst II
CareTech Solutions @ Holy Family Memorial
Manitowoc, WI, USA

Hi Don,

Our switchboard staff are similarly streched. We did get some nice new DDI ranges for the wards
Slightly different in the UK that the beds have a combination phone and TV that patients can pay to use and is supplied by an outside company (nothing to do with us :D ).
As funds aree tight when we did have patient phones the costs were recharged. However the last ones which we had went when that ward was refurbished.

To be honest I suspect most people use mobile phones as calling costs are so low.
(A lot of people only have a telephone line to provide their broadband or it makes their package cheaper).