A patient lift system includes a lift unit operable to raise and lower a lifting strap, the lift unit having a working load rating. A sling bar is attached with the lifting strap and a lifting accessory is coupled to the sling bar. The lifting accessory may comprises: a lifting sling; a lifting harness; a lifting vest; a lifting strap; or a repositioning sheet. The sling bar includes an opening sized to receive one or more attachment handles of the lifting accessory if the working load rating of the lift unit is larger than the working load rating of the lifting accessory. The opening of the sling bar is not capable of receiving one or more attachment handles of the lifting accessory if the working load rating of the lift unit is smaller than the working load rating of the lifting accessory.

A patient bed is provided in a healthcare facility having a network including a real time locating system (RTLS) and an electronic medical records (EMR) computer. The patient bed includes bed control circuitry that is configured to receive at least one protocol messages from the EMR computer and, in response to the at least one protocol message, enables at least one bed safety protocol in which at least one bed condition is monitored by the bed control circuitry. The bed control circuitry generates an alert in response to the at least one bed condition being in an undesirable state and no caregiver being present in the patient room as determined by the RTLS and communicated to the bed circuitry. The bed control circuitry suspends monitoring the at least one bed condition in response to the RTLS indicating to the bed control circuitry that at least one caregiver is present in the patient room.

A patient bed is provided in a healthcare facility having a network including a real time locating system (RTLS) and an electronic medical records (EMR) computer. The patient bed includes bed control circuitry that is configured to receive at least one protocol messages from the EMR computer and, in response to the at least one protocol message, enables at least one bed safety protocol in which at least one bed condition is monitored by the bed control circuitry. The bed control circuitry generates an alert in response to the at least one bed condition being in an undesirable state and no caregiver being present in the patient room as determined by the RTLS and communicated to the bed circuitry. The bed control circuitry suspends monitoring the at least one bed condition in response to the RTLS indicating to the bed control circuitry that at least one caregiver is present in the patient room.

A patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, includes an alert light assembly or an alert light module having separate zones that are individually illuminated to convey information regarding respective alert conditions. The zones each have indicia related to a particular condition of the patient support apparatus. The illuminated zones are each sufficiently large so as to be seen from afar, such as on the order of ten feet or more. Alternatively or additionally, a GUI of the patient support apparatus displays alert indicia as part of a screen saver. Further alternatively or additionally, the patient support apparatus illuminates an alert light in a manner indicating an optimal time for taking a patient's vital signs.

Patient lift systems and lift accessories for the same are disclosed. In one example, a system may include a rail having a carriage support channel formed in the rail, the channel having a width, the rail has a working load rating; a carriage slidably disposed in the rail for relative movement to the rail, the carriage comprising a shaft having a length; and a lift unit coupled to the carriage and operable to raise and lower a lifting strap, wherein the lift unit has a working load rating; wherein the length of the shaft of the carriage is less than the width of the channel when the working load rating of the lift unit is equal to or less than the working load rating of the rail. In this manner, lift units that are incompatible with the working load rating of the rail cannot be connected with the rail.

A patient bed is provided in a healthcare facility having a network including a real time locating system (RTLS) and an electronic medical records (EMR) computer. The patient bed includes bed control circuitry that is configured to receive at least one protocol messages from the EMR computer and, in response to the at least one protocol message, enables at least one bed safety protocol in which at least one bed condition is monitored by the bed control circuitry. The bed control circuitry generates an alert in response to the at least one bed condition being in an undesirable state and no caregiver being present in the patient room as determined by the RTLS and communicated to the bed circuitry. The bed control circuitry suspends monitoring the at least one bed condition in response to the RTLS indicating to the bed control circuitry that at least one caregiver is present in the patient room.

A patient support apparatus includes a base frame, lift mechanism supporting an upper frame relative to the base frame, a load frame, and a plurality of deck sections, a patient support surface, and a number of barriers positioned about the patient supporting surface. The patient support apparatus includes a notification system for visually notifying a caregiver of a condition or status of a component of the patient support apparatus.

A patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, includes an alert light assembly or an alert light module having separate zones that are individually illuminated to convey information regarding respective alert conditions. The zones each have indicia related to a particular condition of the patient support apparatus. The illuminated zones are each sufficiently large so as to be seen from afar, such as on the order of ten feet or more. Alternatively or additionally, a GUI of the patient support apparatus displays alert indicia as part of a screen saver. Further alternatively or additionally, the patient support apparatus illuminates an alert light in a manner indicating an optimal time for taking a patient's vital signs.

A patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, includes an alert light assembly or an alert light module having separate zones that are individually illuminated to convey information regarding respective alert conditions. The zones each have indicia related to a particular condition of the patient support apparatus. The illuminated zones are each sufficiently large so as to be seen from afar, such as on the order of ten feet or more. Alternatively or additionally, a GUI of the patient support apparatus displays alert indicia as part of a screen saver. Further alternatively or additionally, the patient support apparatus illuminates an alert light in a manner indicating an optimal time for taking a patient's vital signs.

A patient support apparatus comprises a support structure, a user module, and a controller. The user module comprises a display and indicator panel that has a plurality of indicia, each associated with a monitored condition. First light emitters are arranged to project light to illuminate the indicia and second light emitters are arranged to project light off a reflective surface. The controller is coupled to the display and the light emitters, and is configured to, in response to a change in a state of one of the monitored conditions, generate on the display a state indicator corresponding to the change in the state and activate the light emitters such that a color of the light projected by the light emitters matches a color of the state indicator.