Patient support systems and methods for assisting caregivers with patient care

1 . A patient support system comprising:

a patient support apparatus comprising a patient support surface configured to support a patient;

a touchscreen display comprising a user interface configured to receive input from a user and an information output device configured to provide a pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus with first and second selectable portions of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus, with the first selectable portion adapted to be engaged by the user with the touchscreen display and moved on the touchscreen display relative to one or more other portions of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus to control a first operational function of the patient support apparatus, and with the second selectable portion adapted to be engaged by the user with the touchscreen display and moved on the touchscreen display relative to the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus to control a second operational function of the patient support apparatus; and

a controller disposed in communication with the touchscreen display and configured to:

receive an input signal from the touchscreen display corresponding to one or more of:

movement, at a first input speed, of the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus relative to the one or more other portions of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus occurring based on user engagement with the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display; and

movement, at a second input speed, of the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus relative to the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus occurring based on user engagement with the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display,

determine one or more of the first operational function and the second operational function of the patient support apparatus corresponding to the user engagement, and

transmit a control signal for controlling one or more of:

the first operational function of the patient support apparatus at a first operation speed based on the first input speed defined by the user engagement with the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display; and

the second operational function of the patient support apparatus at a second operation speed based on the second input speed defined by the user engagement with the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display;

wherein user engagement of the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display defines a first input motion having a first beginning, a first middle, and a first end;

wherein the controller is further configured to determine the first operational speed based on interpolation of the first input speed by a first correlation factor including:

a first beginning correlation factor defined at the first beginning of the first input motion,

a first middle correlation factor defined at the first middle of the first input motion, and

a first end correlation factor defined at the first end of the first input motion;

wherein user engagement of the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display defines a second input motion having a second beginning, a second middle, and a second end; and

wherein the controller is further configured to determine the second operational speed based on interpolation of the second input speed by a second correlation factor including:

a second beginning correlation factor defined at the second beginning of the second input motion,

a second middle correlation factor defined at the second middle of the second input motion, and

a second end correlation factor defined at the second end of the second input motion.

2 . The patient support system of claim 1 , wherein the patient support apparatus further comprises:

a first operational device disposed in communication with the controller and configured to receive the control signal and to control the first operational function based on the control signal; and

a second operational device disposed in communication with the controller and configured to receive the control signal and to control the second operational function based on the control signal.

3 . The patient support system of claim 2 , wherein the first operational device comprises a lift device; and

wherein the second operational device comprises a deck adjustment device.

4 . The patient support system of claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen display is coupled to the patient support apparatus.

5 . The patient support system of claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen display is associated with a mobile device remote from the patient support apparatus.

6 . The patient support system of claim 1 , wherein the patient support apparatus includes:

a base arranged for movement along floor surfaces;

an intermediate frame; and

a patient support deck operatively attached to the intermediate frame.

7 . The patient support system of claim 6 , wherein the first operational function is further defined as moving the intermediate frame relative to the base; and

wherein the patient support apparatus further includes a lift device coupled between the base and the intermediate frame and having a lift actuator in communication with the controller to receive the control signal and to move the intermediate frame relative to the base based on the control signal.

8 . The patient support system of claim 7 , wherein the patient support deck includes a deck section arranged for articulation relative to the intermediate frame to at least partially adjust the patient support surface;

wherein the second operational function is further defined as articulating the deck section relative to the intermediate frame; and

wherein the patient support apparatus further includes a deck adjustment device coupled between the intermediate frame and the deck section and having a deck actuator in communication with the controller to receive the control signal and to articulate the deck section relative to the intermediate frame based on the control signal.

9 . The patient support system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit an output signal to provide an updated display of the pictorial representation on the touchscreen display depicting one or more of:

a moved first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus, and

a moved second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus.

10 . The patient support system of claim 9 , wherein the user engagement includes an input to the touchscreen display to adjust one or more of:

the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus, and

the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus; and

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the output signal to provide the updated display of the pictorial representation comprising one or more of:

the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus moved based on the input, and

the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus moved based on the input.

11 . The patient support system of claim 9 , wherein the touchscreen display is further configured to display a virtual locking feature selectable by the user.

12 . The patient support system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to user selection of the virtual locking feature, transmit a disable signal to disable controlling one or more of:

the first operational function of the patient support apparatus, and

the second operational function of the patient support apparatus; and

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the output signal to provide the updated display of the pictorial representation comprising the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus in response to user input to the touchscreen display following user selection of the virtual locking feature.

13 . The patient support system of claim 9 , wherein the user engagement includes one or more of:

a first selection on the pictorial representation of a first desired component of the patient support apparatus corresponding to the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus, and

a second selection on the pictorial representation of a second desired component of the patient support apparatus corresponding to the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus;

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the output signal to visually emphasize the first desired component in response to selection of the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display; and

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the output signal to visually emphasize the second desired component in response to selection of the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display.

14 . The patient support system of claim 9 , wherein the user engagement includes an input to the touchscreen display of one or more of:

a first desired action of the first operational function of the patient support apparatus, and

a second desired action of the second operational function of the patient support apparatus; and

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the output signal to simulate, on the touchscreen display, one or more of:

the first desired action, and

the second desired action.

15 . The patient support system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a search input comprising a search query;

wherein the information output device is further configured to provide a search result and an instruction to the user with the search result related to a searched operational function of the patient support apparatus;

wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a search input signal from the user interface based on the search query,

determine the search result corresponding to the searched operational function of the patient support apparatus responsive to the search query,

transmit a result output signal to provide the search result to the user with the information output device, and

receive a user selection from the search result with the user interface.

16 . The patient support system of claim 15 , wherein the information output device is configured to display a virtual keyboard having virtual keys; and

wherein the user interface is configured receive the search query from the user actuating the virtual keys of the virtual keyboard.

17 . The patient support system of claim 15 , wherein the information output device is configured to display a search field;

wherein the user interface is configured to receive virtual freeform writing from a stylus within the search field; and

wherein the information output device is further configured to display letters and/or numbers comprising the search query corresponding to the virtual freeform writing.