Optimization of the operation of a patient-support apparatus based on patient response

1. A patient-support apparatus comprising

a source of pressurized air,

a plurality of bladders coupled to the source of pressurized air,

a plurality of pressure sensors configured to produce pressure signals indicative of air pressure within the plurality of bladders, and

a controller in electrical communication with the source of pressurized air and the plurality of pressure sensors, the controller configured to

receive a patient-specific profile,

determine an expected first patient outcome over a time interval based on the patient-specific profile and an operating parameter of the patient-support apparatus,

determine a set of patient-specific operating parameters including a set of target pressures for the plurality of bladders based on the patient-specific profile,

determine an actual first patient outcome over the time interval based on the pressure signals,

update the patient-specific operating parameters if the actual first patient outcome and the expected first patient outcome are different,

update the patient-specific profile to include the first patient outcome, and

adjust the pressures in the bladders to the target pressures.

2. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first outcome is an amount of patient migration toward a foot end of the plurality of bladders.

3. The patient-support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller determines a list of reasons based on the patient-specific profile when the actual first patient outcome is not equal to the expected first patient outcome.

4. The patient-support apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a display coupled to the controller, wherein the controller displays the list of reasons on the display.

5. The patient-support apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controller receives a selected reason from the list of reasons via an input coupled to the controller and updates the patient-specific profile to include the selected reason.

6. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines an actual second patient outcome.

7. The patient-support apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the controller updates the patient-specific profile to include the actual second patient outcome.

8. The patient-support apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the controller updates the patient-specific operating parameters if the actual second outcome is not equal to an expected second outcome.

9. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the expected first patient outcome is selected from a group consisting of: migration of a patient toward a foot end of the plurality of bladders, patient restlessness, patient mobility, and chance of bed sores.

10. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actual first patient outcome is selected from a group consisting of: migration of a patient toward a foot end of the plurality of bladders, patient restlessness, patient mobility, and chance of bed sores.

11. A patient-support apparatus comprising

a source of pressurized air,

a plurality of bladders coupled to the source of pressurized air,

a plurality of pressure sensors coupled to the plurality of bladders and configured to produce pressure signals indicative of air pressure within the plurality of bladders, and

a controller in electrical communication with the source of pressurized air and the plurality of pressure sensors, the controller configured to iteratively

determine an expected first patient outcome corresponding to the amount of migration of a patient toward a foot end of the plurality of bladders over a time interval based on the patient-specific profile and an operating parameter of the patient-support apparatus,

determine an actual first patient outcome corresponding to the amount of migration of a patient toward a foot end of the plurality of bladders over a time interval,

update a patient-specific profile to include at least one of the expected first patient outcome, the actual first patient outcome, and a difference between the expected first patient outcome and the actual first patient outcome,

determine a set of operating parameters based on the updated patient-specific profile, wherein the set of operating parameters includes a first set of target pressures for the plurality of bladders, and

adjust the pressures in the bladders to the first set of target pressures.

12. The patient-support apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a deck movable between a first configuration and a second configuration.

13. The patient-support apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the operating parameters include a second set of target pressures for the plurality of bladders and the controller is configured to (i) adjust the pressures in the bladders to the first set of target pressures when the deck is in the first configuration and (ii) adjust the pressures in the bladders to the second set of target pressures when the deck is in the second configuration.

14. The patient-support apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the operating parameters include a parameter set to allow or to prevent movement of the deck from the first configuration to the second configuration.

15. The patient-support apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a transceiver coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the patient-specific profile and the operating parameters via the transceiver to an external information system.

16. The patient-support apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a transceiver coupled to the controller, wherein the controller receives an algorithm for determining the operating parameters based on the patient-specific profile via the transceiver.

17. The patient-support apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a transceiver coupled to the controller and configured to communicate with a hospital information system.

18. The patient-support apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to send the updated patient-specific profile to the hospital information system via the transceiver.

19. The patient-support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein during a first iteration of the instructions, the controller is configured to retrieve the patient-specific profile from an internal memory.

20. The patient-support apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the patient-specific profile includes information corresponding to at least one of patient age, patient weight, patient height, and patient sex.

21. A patient-support apparatus comprising

a source of pressurized air,

a plurality of bladders coupled to the source of pressurized air,

a plurality of pressure sensors coupled to the plurality of bladders and configured to produce pressure signals indicative of air pressure within the plurality of bladders, and

a controller in electrical communication with the source of pressurized air and the plurality of pressure sensors, the controller configured to determine an expected first patient outcome corresponding to an amount of migration of a patient toward a foot end of the plurality of bladders over a time interval based on a patient-specific profile and an operating parameter of the patient-support apparatus and the controller is further configured to determine an actual first patient outcome corresponding to the amount of patient migration toward a foot end of the plurality of bladders over a time interval and to adjust target pressures for the plurality of bladders based on the actual first patient outcome.

22. The patient support apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an actual second patient outcome corresponding to an amount of patient migration toward a foot end of the plurality of bladders over a time interval after the adjustment of target pressures and to adjust target pressures for the plurality of bladders a second time based on the actual first patient outcome and the actual second patient outcome.