Abstract: A bed status system includes a patient support apparatus having a status, a location unit configured to provide a location to the patient support apparatus, and a bed status module coupled to the location unit and the patient support apparatus to receive the status and the location.

Abstract: A system for use with a hospital bed having circuitry and a standard AC power outlet spaced from the hospital bed is provided. The system includes a cable assembly couplable to the circuitry of the hospital bed. The cable assembly has power conductors and at least one data conductor. The cable assembly also has a plug including a first power coupler coupled to the power conductors and a first data coupler coupled to the at least one data conductor. The system also includes a second data coupler mountable adjacent the standard AC power outlet. The second data coupler is configured to couple to the first data coupler when the first power coupler is coupled to the standard AC power outlet.

Abstract: A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.

Abstract: A system for determining a physiological signal of a person supported by a person support apparatus using signals from force transducers is described herein. Force transducers communicate with a controller to transmit signals indicative of weight acting on them. The controller determines blood volume pulse information from the signals received from the force transducers. Heart rate and respiratory rate information is derived from the blood volume pulse information.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support structure, such as a bed frame or mattress or both, that is configured to support a patient in a recumbent position. The patient support structure is configured to provide at least one therapy to a patient. A therapy enabler token is coupleable to the patient support structure. The at least one therapy is disabled when the therapy enabler token is decoupled from the patient support structure and the at least one therapy is enabled in response to the therapy enabler token being coupled to the patient support structure.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes an electronic control system with client browser software running on a general purpose operating system that connects with a remote server via a high speed network connection. The browser and operating system allows the patient support apparatus to access and run programs not designed exclusively for patient support apparatus electronics systems. A general purpose microprocessor along with network converter circuitry allows the patient support to deliver messages in frames having intended recipient addresses. The microprocessor communicates with one or more graphical user interfaces and with a control system that controls actuators of the patient support. The control system may comprise networked nodes, such as CAN nodes for example. Isolation circuitry isolates the patient support from a network of a care facility with which it communicates.

Abstract: A hospital bed has a bed frame and communication circuitry operable to transmit bed status data to a network of a healthcare facility and to receive messages from the network. The messages include information indicating whether bed status conditions are being monitored by a remote computer of the network for generation of alert messages to at least one caregiver in response to alert conditions being indicated by the bed status data. The bed has at least one user input that is used locally at the bed to enable and suspend monitoring of the bed status conditions by the remote computer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, beds, supports surfaces and machine readable medium for associating beds and support surface of a healthcare facility are disclosed. A surface association system for a healthcare facility may comprise a plurality of beds. The system may further comprise a computing device and a plurality of support surfaces to be placed upon beds of the plurality of beds. The computing device may associate a support surface of the plurality of support surfaces with a bed of the plurality of beds. The computing device may make the association based upon status data received from the plurality of beds and the plurality of support surfaces. The support surface and/or bed to be associated may initiate a surface association request. The computing device, in response to the surface association request, may request performance of one or more actions on the bed and/or support surface to be associated to identify the bed and/or support surface from the beds and support surfaces of the healthcare facility.

Abstract: A bed includes bed status indicators, such as a pair of spaced lamp modules that are illuminated to signify a satisfactory status or an unsatisfactory status of the bed.

Abstract: A system for use in a healthcare facility having a nurse call system with a nurse call computer located remotely from patient rooms is provided. The system includes a hospital bed having communication circuitry configured for communicating data from the hospital bed. An interface unit is spaced from the hospital bed. The interface unit has a first connector to which the hospital bed couples via a wired connection, a second connector which is communicatively coupled to the nurse call system, and circuitry comprising a third connector for connection to an external device.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes an electronic control system with client browser software running on a general purpose operating system that connects with a remote server via a high speed network connection. The browser and operating system allows the patient support apparatus to access and run programs not designed exclusively for patient support apparatus electronics systems. A general purpose microprocessor along with network converter circuitry allows the patient support to deliver messages in frames having intended recipient addresses. The microprocessor communicates with one or more graphical user interfaces and with a control system that controls actuators of the patient support. The control system may comprise networked nodes, such as CAN nodes for example. Isolation circuitry isolates the patient support from a network of a care facility with which it communicates.

Abstract: Systems, methods, beds, supports surfaces and machine readable medium for associating beds and support surface of a healthcare facility are disclosed. A surface association system for a healthcare facility may comprise a plurality of beds. The system may further comprise a computing device and a plurality of support surfaces to be placed upon beds of the plurality of beds. The computing device may associate a support surface of the plurality of support surfaces with a bed of the plurality of beds. The computing device may make the association based upon status data received from the plurality of beds and the plurality of support surfaces. The support surface and/or bed to be associated may initiate a surface association request. The computing device, in response to the surface association request, may request performance of one or more actions on the bed and/or support surface to be associated to identify the bed and/or support surface from the beds and support surfaces of the healthcare facility.

Abstract: Configurable user interface systems for a patient support structure are disclosed. As described a control interface comprises the capability to allow limited impact on processes deemed important when other applications and programs are run. The configurable user interface systems described herein allow for customized display of information and display options available to a user in various environments.

Abstract: A hospital bed obstacle detection device and related method for detecting an obstacle between first and second components of a hospital bed is provided.

Abstract: A method and system of reporting the status of a bed (12) whose occupant is at risk of an undesired event, includes indicating that the occupant is at risk of the undesired event and operating a lamp module (42) to signify a satisfactory status or an unsatisfactory status of the bed.

Abstract: A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a microphone and a controller. The microphone is configured to record a patient's verbal acknowledgement of his identity and generate a first input signal in response to the patient's verbal acknowledgement.

Abstract: A bed includes bed status indicators, such as a pair of spaced lamp modules that are illuminated to signify a satisfactory status or an unsatisfactory status of the bed.

Abstract: A system for use in a healthcare facility having a nurse call system with a nurse call computer located remotely from patient rooms is provided. The system includes a hospital bed having communication circuitry configured for communicating data from the hospital bed. An interface unit is spaced from the hospital bed. The interface unit has a first connector to which the hospital bed couples via a wired connection, a second connector which is communicatively coupled to the nurse call system, and circuitry comprising a third connector for connection to an external device.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing data communication and power to a device located in a room having a power outlet is disclosed. The power outlet may be a standard AC outlet, for example. The apparatus includes a cable extending from the device and having a plug comprising a plug body. Prongs extend from the plug body and couple to the power outlet to receive power. A first near field communication antenna is carried by the plug body. A communication module has a second near field communication antenna and is located in the room in proximity to the plug. At least one of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna communicates data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna.