Abstract: A system including a patient support apparatus that has an adjustable height, a brake and a siderail. The system also includes a processor receiving at least two of the following signals: a first signal indicating a brake condition of the brake, a second signal indicating a siderail condition of the siderail, and a third signal indicating a height condition of the patient support apparatus. The system has a user input configured to allow a person to make a selection of any one or more of the brake, siderail and height conditions for monitoring. The system includes a light that has a first state when any of the selected brake, siderail and height conditions indicate an alarm condition and that has a second state when all of the selected brake, siderail and height conditions of the selection indicate no alarm condition.

Abstract: A system, machine readable medium, or method of bed data aggregation, normalization, and communication to third parties is provided. A plurality of hospital beds of different bed types communicates bed data to the system and the system normalizes the data for subsequent transmission. End users select a communication protocol from among a plurality of available communication protocols in which the normalized bed data is to be transmitted to end user computer devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus for controlling a plurality of modules coupled to a communications network of a bed are disclosed. The apparatus may comprise an interface module, a plurality of user interfaces, and a plurality of dedicated data links. The interface module may include a transceiver coupled to the communications network, a processor configured to output graphics data, and a plurality of transmitters configured to receive the graphics data and generate a plurality of synchronous graphics signals. Each of the plurality of user interfaces may include a graphical display. Each of the plurality of dedicated data links may be coupled to one of the plurality of transmitters and to one of the plurality of user interfaces.

Abstract: A hospital bed has wireless communication circuitry operable to transmit wirelessly bed status data. A surface supported by the bed has wireless communication circuitry operable to transmit wirelessly surface status data. The wireless communication circuitry of the hospital bed and the wireless communication circuitry of the surface communicate with a network independently. A hospital bed with an integrated surface has wireless communication circuitry operable to transmit wirelessly bed status data and surface status data. The wireless bed status data and the wireless surface status data are received by wireless access points of a network of a healthcare facility.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus including a barrier, an optical detector, and a control system. The optical detector secured to the barrier and configured to detect indicia having a predetermined pattern. The control system includes a processor in communication with the optical detector, a transmitter in communication with the processor, and a memory unit in communication with the processor. The memory unit stores a unique identifier associated with the patient support apparatus. The processor receiving a signal from the optical detector indicative of data detected by the optical detector and performing a set of instructions in response to the optical detector communicating the data, the set of instructions performed by the processor including (i) linking the data with the unique identifier, and (ii) communicating the linked data and unique identifier to a network.

Abstract: A computing device, system, method and machine readable medium for managing beds of a healthcare facility is provided. A system includes a client device and a server computing device. The client device may generate a request to assign a bed to a patient, present a list of beds to assign the patient, and receive a selection that identifies a bed of the list of beds. The server computing device may generate the list of beds presented by the client device in response to the request. The server computing device may retrieve an electronic medical record for the patient, and obtain healthcare attributes for the patient from the electronic medical record. The server computing device may generate the list based upon capabilities of a plurality of beds and the healthcare attributes of the patient retrieved from the electronic medical record. The server computing device may further assign to the patient the bed identified by the selection.

Abstract: A system is provided for use with a pre-existing hospital bed and a nurse call system. The system includes a first apparatus that is coupleable to a data port of the hospital bed and a second apparatus that is spaced from the hospital bed, that is spaced from the first apparatus, and that is coupleable to the nurse call system. A transmitter of the first apparatus is operable to transmit data received at the data port to a receiver that is operable to wirelessly receive data transmitted by the wireless transmitter of the first apparatus. The first apparatus and second apparatus are used in lieu of a cable that is otherwise usable to connect the hospital bed to the nurse call system via a hard-wired connection.

Abstract: A system including a patient support apparatus that has an adjustable height, a brake and a siderail. The system also includes a processor receiving at least two of the following signals: a first signal indicating a brake condition of the brake, a second signal indicating a siderail condition of the siderail, and a third signal indicating a height condition of the patient support apparatus. The system has a user input configured to allow a person to make a selection of any one or more of the brake, siderail and height conditions for monitoring. The system includes a light that has a first state when any of the selected brake, siderail and height conditions indicate an alarm condition and that has a second state when all of the selected brake, siderail and height conditions of the selection indicate no alarm condition.

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 system includes a unit having associated therewith first identification (ID) data. The unit is mountable to a room wall and has a first transmitter that transmits the first ID data wirelessly. The system also includes a hospital bed having associated therewith second ID data. The hospital bed is spaced from the unit and has a wireless receiver that receives the first ID data transmitted by the unit. The hospital bed has a second transmitter that transmits the first ID data and the second ID data wirelessly.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, communicates with an electronic medical record (EMR) system in healthcare facility. The hospital bed includes a patient support structure to support a patient, a graphical user interface coupled to the patient support structure, and control circuitry coupled to the graphical user interface. The graphical user interface displays at least one input that may be used by a caregiver to chart data into an electronic medical record (EMR) of a patient supported by the patient support structure.

Abstract: A wireless control system for use with a patient-support apparatus includes a first receiver located on the patient-support apparatus and a wireless hand-held controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the first receiver to control functions of the patient-support apparatus and/or functions of hospital room equipment. The wireless control system may also include a second receiver located apart from the patient-support apparatus. The wireless hand-held controller may be configured to wirelessly communicate with the second receiver to control functions of the hospital room equipment. Additionally, the wireless control system may include a docking station configured to receive and charge the wireless hand-held controller.

Abstract: A method and system for remote diagnostic monitoring of a healthcare device, for example, a patient support system. The system includes a communication device configured to transmit sensor data received from a sensor system coupled to the patient support system and configured to generate sensor data relating to diagnostic information of the healthcare device. The communication device can also be configured to receive configuration data for configuring at least one of the healthcare device and the sensor system. The monitoring device is located geographically distant from the healthcare device, is coupled to the communication adapter by a datalink, for example, a telecommunication network, and is configured to receive the sensor data. The monitoring device is configured to determine, based on the received data, whether service or replacement of the healthcare device or a portion thereof is indicated.

Abstract: A system includes at least one computer device coupled to a hospital Ethernet, the hospital Ethernet having at least one wired access point and at least on wireless access point. The system also includes a hospital bed and a network interface unit (NIU) that facilitates communications from the hospital bed to the at least one computer device.

Abstract: A HFCWO apparatus includes a housing having a port, a therapy system carried by the housing and operable to deliver HFCWO therapy to a patient in accordance with a set of operating parameters, and a memory device couplable to the port for storing at least a portion of the set of operating parameters. The therapy system may be operable in accordance with the portion of the set of operating parameters stored in the memory device. The apparatus may comprise a wireless transmitter carried by the housing and operable to wirelessly transmit data relating to HFCWO therapy to a wireless device, such as a printer, PC, a PDA, and the like.

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 HFCWO apparatus includes a housing having a port, a therapy system carried by the housing and operable to deliver HFCWO therapy to a patient in accordance with a set of operating parameters, and a memory device couplable to the port for storing at least a portion of the set of operating parameters. The therapy system may be operable in accordance with the portion of the set of operating parameters stored in the memory device. The apparatus may comprise a wireless transmitter carried by the housing and operable to wirelessly transmit data relating to HFCWO therapy to a wireless device, such as a printer, PC, a PDA, and the like.

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: Embodiments of an apparatus for controlling a plurality of modules coupled to a communications network of a bed are disclosed. The apparatus may comprise an interface module, a plurality of user interfaces, and a plurality of dedicated data links. The interface module may include a transceiver coupled to the communications network, a processor configured to output graphics data, and a plurality of transmitters configured to receive the graphics data and generate a plurality of synchronous graphics signals. Each of the plurality of user interfaces may include a graphical display. Each of the plurality of dedicated data links may be coupled to one of the plurality of transmitters and to one of the plurality of user interfaces.