Patent Publication Number: US-11642261-B2

Title: Techniques for managing patient therapy protocols

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The subject patent application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/211,927 filed on Dec. 6, 2018 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,123,246 on Sep. 21, 2021, which claims priority to and all the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/609,805 filed on Dec. 22, 2017, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Patient therapy protocols may be used to periodically provide therapy to a patient via a medical device. Such medical devices may include, for example, patient support apparatuses, such as hospital beds, stretchers, cots, tables, wheelchairs, recliners, and chairs for patient care. Other medical devices may include equipment such as lights, televisions, temperature management systems, respirators, IV lines, surgical tools, and heart rate monitors that may be used in medical procedures or in the provision of medical services to patients. For example, a patient therapy protocol may be used to periodically provide therapy to a patient disposed on a patient support apparatus by turning the patient every hour to minimize the patient&#39;s risk for developing a pressure ulcer. 
     Typically, patient therapy protocols may be initiated by a caregiver assigned to the patient or the patient support apparatus. However, such caregivers are typically tasked with caring for multiple patients. Furthermore, because patient therapy protocols may periodically provide therapy to the patient after being initiated, there is a possibility that the caregiver may forget that the patient therapy protocol is providing therapy to the patient. As such, there are opportunities to address at least the aforementioned problems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a system including a patient support apparatus, input devices, a location system, and a therapy management system; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram illustrating the patient support apparatus, the input devices, the location system, and the therapy management system; 
         FIG.  3 A  is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of a method of managing patient therapy protocols, which includes a step of executing an instance of the patient therapy protocol; 
         FIG.  3 B  is a flowchart illustrating the step of executing the instance of the patient therapy protocol; 
         FIG.  3 C  is a flowchart further illustrating the step of executing the instance of the patient therapy protocol; 
         FIG.  4 A  is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the method of managing patient therapy protocols, which includes a step of monitoring a location of a caregiver; 
         FIG.  4 B  is a flowchart illustrating the step of monitoring the location of the caregiver; and 
         FIG.  4 C  is a flowchart further illustrating the step of monitoring the location of the caregiver. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, techniques for managing patient therapy protocols are provided. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , an embodiment of a system  10  for managing patient therapy protocols is shown. The system  10  includes a patient support apparatus  100  for supporting a patient in a health care setting. The patient support apparatus  100  illustrated in  FIG.  1    includes a hospital bed. However, in other embodiments, the patient support apparatus  100  may include a stretcher, a cot, a table, a wheelchair, a recliner, a chair for patient care, or any other similar apparatus utilized in the care of a patient. 
     A support structure  110  provides support for the patient. The support structure  110  illustrated in  FIG.  1    includes a base  150  and a support frame  130 . The base  150  includes a base frame  151 . The support frame  130  is spaced above the base frame  151  in  FIG.  1   . The support structure  110  also includes a patient support deck  140  disposed on the support frame  130 . The patient support deck  140  includes several sections, some of which are capable of articulating relative to the support frame  130 , such as a back section, a seat section, a thigh section, and a foot section. The patient support deck  140  provides a patient support surface  141  upon which the patient is supported. 
     A mattress  160  may be disposed on the patient support deck  140  during use. The mattress  160  includes a secondary patient support surface  161  upon which the patient is supported. In addition, the mattress  160  may be omitted in certain embodiments, such that the patient rests directly on the patient support surface  141 . 
     The base  150 , support frame  130 , patient support deck  140 , and patient support surface  141  each have a head end and a foot end corresponding to a designated placement of the patient&#39;s head and feet on the patient support apparatus  100 . The construction of the support structure  110  may take on any suitable design, and is not limited to that specifically set forth above. 
     Side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174  are coupled to the support frame  130  or the patient support deck  140  and are thereby supported by the base  150 . A first side rail  171  is positioned at a left head end of the patient support deck  140 . A second side rail  172  is positioned at a left foot end of the support frame  130 . A third side rail  173  is positioned at a right head end of the patient support deck  140 . A fourth side rail  174  is positioned at a left foot end of the support frame  130 . If the patient support apparatus  100  is a stretcher or a cot, there may be fewer side rails. The side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174  are movable to a raised position in which they block ingress and egress into and out of the patient support apparatus  100 , one or more intermediate positions, and a lowered position in which the side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174  are not an obstacle to such ingress and egress. In still other configurations, the patient support apparatus  100  may not include any side rails. 
     A headboard  181  and a footboard  182  are coupled to the support frame  130 . In other embodiments, when the headboard  181  and footboard  182  are included, the headboard  181  and footboard  182  may be coupled to other locations on the patient support apparatus  100 , such as the base  150 . In still other embodiments, the patient support apparatus  100  does not include the headboard  181  and/or the footboard  182 . 
     Caregiver interfaces  183 , such as handles, are shown integrated into the footboard  182  and side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174  to facilitate movement of the patient support apparatus  100  over floor surfaces. Additional caregiver interfaces  183  may be integrated into the headboard  181  and/or other components of the patient support apparatus  100 . The caregiver interfaces  183  are graspable by a caregiver to manipulate the patient support apparatus  100  for movement. 
     Wheels  190  are coupled to the base  150  to facilitate transport over the floor surfaces. The wheels  190  are arranged in each of four quadrants of the base  150  adjacent to corners of the base  150 . In the embodiment shown, the wheels  190  are caster wheels able to rotate and swivel relative to the support structure  110  during transport. Each of the wheels  190  forms part of a caster assembly  192 . Each caster assembly  192  is mounted to the base  150 . It should be understood that various configurations of the caster assemblies  192  are contemplated. In addition, in some embodiments, the wheels  190  are not caster wheels and may be non-steerable, steerable, non-powered, powered, or combinations thereof. Additional wheels are also contemplated. For example, the patient support apparatus  100  may include four non-powered, non-steerable wheels, along with one or more powered wheels. In some cases, the patient support apparatus  100  may not include any wheels. 
     In other embodiments, one or more auxiliary wheels (powered or non-powered), which are movable between stowed positions and deployed positions, may be coupled to the support structure  110 . In some cases, when these auxiliary wheels are located between caster assemblies  192  and contact the floor surface in the deployed position, they cause two of the caster assemblies  192  to be lifted off the floor surface thereby shortening a wheel base of the patient support apparatus  100 . A fifth wheel may also be arranged substantially in a center of the base  150 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the system  10  may include an actuatable device  120  and actuators  121 ,  122 . The actuators  121 ,  122  may be further defined as being capable of moving the actuatable device  120 . The actuators  121 ,  122  may be coupled to the support structure  110  to move the patient when the patient is disposed on the patient support structure  110 . In the embodiment of the patient support apparatus  100  shown in  FIG.  1   , the patient support apparatus  100  includes two actuators  121 ,  122 . However, it is to be noted that the patient support apparatus  100  may include any suitable number of actuators  121 ,  122 . Furthermore, any of the techniques described herein can utilize any number of actuators  121 ,  122  individually or in combination. 
     The actuators  121 ,  122  should be broadly understood as a type of motor or device that is capable of moving or controlling a mechanism or a system. For example, some suitable, non-limiting examples of the actuators  121 ,  122  are mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, thermal, or magnetic actuators. The actuators  121 ,  122  may also include motors, such as a rotational or linear motor. In a further example, the actuators  121 ,  122  may include an inflation actuator. In sum, it should be understood that any type of actuator can be used in certain applications. 
     As described above, the actuators  121 ,  122  may be further defined as being capable of moving an actuatable device  120 . These actuatable devices  120  are not particularly limited, and may include any device or system that includes one or more actuators  121 ,  122 . In certain embodiments, the actuatable device  120  is one that, when actuated, results in a change of position of the patient support surfaces  141 ,  161  of the patient support structure  110 . This change in position of one or more patient support surfaces  141 ,  161  when the patient occupies the patient support apparatus  100 , results in a change in the position of one or more portions of the patient&#39;s body. 
     More specifically, in situations where a patient occupies the patient support apparatus  100 , i.e., contacts one or more patient support surfaces  141 ,  161 , operation of each of the actuatable devices  120  results in movement of one or more portions of the patient in one or more dimensions relative to a static surface, such as relative to a floor of a hospital. Examples of such movement include, but are not limited to: forward and reverse movement of the patient by virtue of movement of the patient support structure  110  along a floor; raising and lowering movement of the patient by virtue of movement of the patient support structure  110  upward and downward relative to the floor; angular movement by virtue of changing the angle of at least a portion of the patient support structure  110  relative to a floor; rotation of the patient along a longitudinal axis of the patient support structure  110  (while the patient support apparatus  100  remains stationary relative to the floor); or various combinations of those types of movement. 
     Without limitation, the actuatable devices  120  that result in the change of the position of one or more patient support surfaces  141 ,  161  of the patient support structure  110  may include a coordinated motion device, a patient raising device, a patient turning device, a patient centering device, a patient ingress/egress device, a lift device, a fowler adjustment device, a gatch adjustment device, and a transport device. 
     It is also contemplated that the actuatable device  120  may be of the type that does not result in a change of position, orientation, and/or elevation of the patient support surfaces  141 ,  161 . These “non-position actuatable devices” may include, but are not limited to, a patient comfort device, such as an entertainment device, a lighting device, a temperature device, a humidity device, and an aromatherapy device, as well as patient therapy devices, such as vibration therapy devices, percussion therapy devices, compression therapy devices, patient warming devices, and electrical stimulation devices. 
     In  FIG.  1   , a therapy management system  193  is illustrated as being disposed within the footboard  182  of the patient support apparatus  100 . However, in other embodiments, the therapy management system  193  may be disposed on or within the headboard  181 , any of the side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174 , the caregiver interfaces  183 , or any other suitable component of the patient support apparatus  100 . Furthermore, the therapy management system  193  may be separated from the patient support apparatus  100 . For example, the therapy management system  193  may be mounted to a ceiling of a hospital room, a support structure of the hospital room, or a wall of the hospital room. In further embodiments, the therapy management system  193  may be disposed within a remote computing device such as a cellular phone, a desktop computer, or a laptop. 
     A first input device  198  may be used by a first caregiver  195  and a second input device  199  may be used by a second caregiver  196 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1   , the input devices  198 ,  199  are tablet devices. The input devices  198 ,  199  may be mobile input devices in certain embodiments. The input devices  198 ,  199  may be any one of a cellular phone, a desktop computer, a nurse call station, a laptop, a wearable remote device, or any other suitable mobile input device. In other embodiments, the input devices  198 ,  199  may be a disposed on the patient support apparatus  100 . For example, the input devices  198 ,  199  may be a user interface of the patient support apparatus  100  such as a touchscreen of the patient support apparatus  100 , buttons of the patient support apparatus  100 , or switches of the patient support apparatus  100 . 
     It should be noted that, while the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1    includes two mobile input devices  198 ,  199 , the system  10  may include any suitable number of input devices. For example, in some embodiments, the system  10  may also include a third mobile input device for use by a third caregiver and a fourth mobile input device for use by a fourth caregiver. 
     Furthermore, the system  10  may be designed to be used by any suitable number of caregivers, such as a first caregiver, a second caregiver, and a third caregiver. For example, the system  10  may be used by the first caregiver  195 , who may be the caregiver initially assigned to the patient or the patient&#39;s primary caregiver, and a second caregiver  196 . In some embodiments, the system  10  may designate the second caregiver  196  as a backup caregiver to the first caregiver  195 . In other embodiments, the second caregiver  196  may be a caregiver chosen from a group of available caregivers. The system  10  may also appoint a third, master caregiver, whom may be assigned to monitor multiple patients. For example, the third caregiver may be a nurse who is assigned to the nurse call station or who is assigned to monitor multiple patients at a local or remote command center. Of course, the system  10  may be designed for use by more than three caregivers, and include any suitable number of input devices. 
     The patient support apparatus  100  may include an override system  194 . In  FIG.  1   , the override system  194  is illustrated as being disposed within the first side rail  172 . However, in other embodiments, the override system  194  may be disposed on or within the headboard  181 , the footboard  182 , any of the side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174 , the caregiver interfaces  183 , or any other suitable component of the patient support apparatus  100 . In such embodiments, the override system  194  may include a switch, a button, a latch, a touchscreen display, a microphone, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the override system  194  may be separated from the patient support apparatus  100 . For example, the override system  194  may be mounted to a ceiling of a hospital room, a support structure of the hospital room, or a wall of the hospital room. In another example, the override system  194  may include a remote computing device such as a cellular phone, a desktop computer, or a laptop. For instance, the mobile input devices  198 ,  199  may be in communication with the override system  194 . 
     The system  10  also includes a location system  197 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the location system  197  may be disposed within the fourth side rail  174  of the patient support apparatus  100 . However, in other embodiments, the location system  197  may be disposed on or within the headboard  181 , any of the side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174 , the caregiver interfaces  183 , or any other suitable component of the patient support apparatus  100 . Furthermore, the location system  197  may include any sensor or system capable of determining location. For example, the location system  193  may include a proximity sensor, such as an infrared sensor, disposed on the footboard  182  of the patient support apparatus  100 . 
     In other embodiments, the location system  197  may be separated from the patient support apparatus  100 . For example, the location system  197  may be mounted to the ceiling of the hospital room, a support structure of the hospital room, or a wall of the hospital room. In an example embodiment, the location system  193  may include a Quick Response (QR) code scanner affixed to the wall of the hospital room, which detects a location when a QR code is scanned. 
     The location system  197  may include a software and/or hardware component of a computing device such as a cellular phone, a desktop computer, or a laptop. For example, the location system  197  may include a global positioning system (GPS) of the input devices  198 ,  199  or a wireless networking device of the input devices  198 ,  199 . In another example, the location system  197  may include an asset tracking system, such as an RFID tracking system, installed on a server. Accordingly, any of the above-described embodiments of the location system  197  may be used to determine a location of the first input device  198 , a location of the second input device  199 , and/or any other input device used with system  100 . When the location of an input device is determined, the location system  197  and/or the therapy management system  193  may determine the location of the associated caregiver to be the location of their respective input device. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the therapy management system  193 , the patient support apparatus  100 , and the input devices  198 ,  199  may be coupled to a communication network  191  to communicate wirelessly with each other. The communication network  191  may be any suitable communication network. For example, the communication network  191  may include any one of Bluetooth, WiFi, Infrared, ZigBee, radio waves, cellular signals, any other suitable communication network, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the communication network  191  may include a networking device such as a gateway device, a router, or a repeater. In other embodiments, the therapy management system  193 , the patient support apparatus  100 , the override system  194 , the location system  197 , and the input devices  198 ,  199  may communicate using another suitable peer-to-peer, wireless, wired, or other communication protocol. 
       FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram which further illustrates the communication network  191 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2   , the therapy management system  193 , the override system  194 , the mobile devices  198 ,  199 , the location system  197 , and the patient support apparatus  100  may be coupled to one another via the communication network  191 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the input devices  198 ,  199  via the communication network  191  and may receive a selection of a patient therapy protocol from the input devices  198 ,  199 . 
     One type of therapy protocol is a default therapy protocol set according to the hospital&#39;s standard procedures for patients with specific risk profiles. Another type of therapy protocol is a variable protocol based on medical procedure data, patient characteristic data, caregiver observation data, a patient condition of the patient, a state of the patient support apparatus, the patient&#39;s preferences, medication data, prior injury data, or combinations thereof. Exemplary therapy protocols include turning protocols, pressure-ulcer risk protocols, and percussion therapy protocols. 
     The patient therapy protocol may include a set of desired therapeutic actions, which when executed, provide therapy to a patient. During an execution of the desired therapeutic action, the therapy management system  193  transmits a patient-moving output signal to the actuators  121 ,  122  of the patient support apparatus  100 . The patient-moving output signal may be defined as a command which, when transmitted to the actuators  121 ,  122 , causes movement of the one or more actuatable devices  120  that are configured to provide therapy to the patient when the patient is on the patient support apparatus  100  or other suitable therapy location. Each execution of the desired therapeutic action is termed an “instance” of the patient therapy protocol herein. For example, in one embodiment, the patient therapy protocol may cause the actuators  121 ,  122  to elevate the foot section of the patient support deck  140 . In such an embodiment, an instance of the patient therapy corresponds to each elevation of the patient support deck  140 . 
     An instance of the patient therapy protocol may be triggered at certain time periods, i.e., at periodic intervals, or through the occurrence of certain events. The events may be based on the medical procedure data, the patient characteristic data, the caregiver observation data, the patient condition of the patient, the state of the patient support apparatus, the patient&#39;s preferences, the medication data, the prior injury data, or combinations thereof. For example, in one embodiment, the patient therapy protocol may cause the actuators  121 ,  122  to elevate the foot section of the patient support deck  140  based on a periodic interval, such as every hour. In such an embodiment, the patient therapy protocol is triggered every hour. In another embodiment, the patient therapy protocol may cause the actuators  121 ,  122  to turn the patient based on certain events or circumstances, such as based on a risk of acquiring a pressure ulcer, which may be calculated based on a sensed moisture level of the patient support apparatus  100 , an activity level of the patient, and/or a friction measurement between the patient and the patient support apparatus  100 . In such an embodiment, the patient therapy protocol is triggered when the risk of acquiring a pressure ulcer exceeds a certain threshold. 
     The patient therapy protocol may also include a location requirement. The location requirement of a patient therapy protocol may be used to ensure that the caregiver is within a specified range of the patient support apparatus  100  before an instance of the patient therapy protocol is initiated and/or throughout a time that an instance of the patient therapy protocol is being executed. The location requirement may include a proximity to the patient support apparatus  100 , a predetermined location, or combinations thereof. For instance, an “in-room” location requirement may require the caregiver to be in the hospital room of the patient support apparatus  100  during the execution of the patient therapy protocol. 
     For example, the location requirement may require the caregiver to be in the same wing of the hospital as the patient support apparatus  100 , i.e., an “in-wing” location requirement. The location requirement may require the caregiver to be on the same floor of the hospital as the patient support apparatus, i.e., an “in-floor” location requirement. Similarly, the location requirement may require the caregiver to be in the same building of the hospital as the patient support apparatus, i.e., an “in-building” location requirement. The location requirement may also require the caregiver to be in the same functional area or department of the hospital as the patient support apparatus  100 . For example, if the patient support apparatus  100  is location in the cardiology department of the hospital, the location requirement may require the caregiver to be in the cardiology department of the hospital. In other embodiments, the location requirement may require the caregiver to be adjacent to the patient support apparatus  100 . In another embodiment, the location requirement may require the caregiver to be within a predetermined or programmable distance, such as 100 feet, of the patient support apparatus  100 , i.e. a distance requirement. In yet another embodiment, a location score may be calculated based on the caregiver&#39;s distance from the patient support apparatus  100 . In such an embodiment, the location requirement may require the caregiver to maintain a predetermined or programmable location score. 
     In another embodiment, the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol may inherently require the caregiver to be adjacent to the patient support apparatus  100  during the patient therapy protocol. In an example embodiment, the patient therapy protocol may require the caregiver to push a button on the patient support apparatus  100  to initiate an instance of the patient therapy protocol. In another example embodiment, the patient therapy protocol may require the caregiver to raise the side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174  and confirm, using the input device of the patient support apparatus  100 , that the side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174  have been raised before the patient therapy protocol causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to turn the patient. These examples are also examples of the in-room location requirement. 
     Additionally, the location requirement may include a first location requirement and a subsequent location requirement, the first location requirement being the location requirement for the first instance of the selected patient therapy protocol and the subsequent location requirement being a location requirement for a subsequent instance of the patient therapy protocol. For example, in one embodiment, the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol may require the caregiver to be in-room when the caregiver initiates the first instance of the patient therapy protocol, and may require that the caregiver be located within a certain predetermined or programmable distance of patient support apparatus, such as 100 feet, during subsequent instances of the patient therapy protocol. In such an embodiment, the location requirement includes a first location requirement and a subsequent distance requirement. 
     Furthermore, the therapy management system  193  may determine the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol based on the medical procedure data, the patient characteristic data, the caregiver observation data, the patient condition of the patient, the state of the patient support apparatus, a risk level of the patient therapy protocol, the patient&#39;s preferences, the medication data, the prior injury data, or combinations thereof. 
     In embodiments where the therapy management system  193  determines the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol based on the medical procedure data, the medical procedure data may include a type of medical procedure undergone by the patient, a duration since a last medical procedure undergone by the patient, a duration since admittance of the patient to a caregiving facility, or combinations thereof. In an example embodiment, the location requirement may require the caregiver to be in-room if the patient has recently undergone back surgery based on the medical procedure data and if the patient therapy protocol causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to incline the back section of the patient support deck  140 . 
     In embodiments where the therapy management system  193  determines the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol based on the patient characteristic data, the patient characteristic data may include a height of the patient, fall risk data, width of the patient, age of the patient, weight of the patient, body mass index of the patient, or combinations thereof. In an example embodiment, the location requirement may require the caregiver to be in-room if the patient has a high fall risk based on the fall risk data and if the patient therapy protocol causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to turn the patient. 
     In embodiments where the therapy management system  193  determines the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol based on the caregiver observation data, the caregiver observation data may include psychological data of the patient, phobia data of the patient, pain sensitivity data of the patient, nausea data of the patient, or combinations thereof. In an example embodiment, the location requirement may require a caregiver to be in-room if the patient is experiencing nausea symptoms based on the nausea data and if the therapy protocol causes movement of the patient&#39;s head. 
     In embodiments where the therapy management system  193  determines the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol based on the patient condition, the patient condition may include physiological data of the patient such as a heart rate of the patient, a temperature of the patient, vital signs of the patient, a comfort level of the patient, a pain rating of the patient, a position of the patient, or a blood pressure of the patient. In an example embodiment, the location requirement may require the caregiver to be in-room if the heart rate of the patient is at a high-level. 
     In embodiments where the therapy management system  193  determines the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol based on the state of the patient support apparatus, the state of the patient support apparatus may include a height of a component of the patient support apparatus  100 , a length of a component of the patient support apparatus  100 , a position of a component of the patient support apparatus  100 , a state of a component of the patient support apparatus  100 , a velocity of a component of the patient support apparatus  100 , an acceleration of a component of the patient support apparatus  100 , or combinations thereof. In an example embodiment, the location requirement may require the caregiver to be adjacent to the patient support apparatus  100  before the patient therapy protocol causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to move the patient if the side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174  are in the lowered position. 
     In embodiments where the therapy management system  193  determines the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol based on the risk level of the patient therapy protocol, the patient therapy protocol may be categorized as a low-risk patient therapy protocol, a medium-risk patient therapy protocol, or a high-risk patient therapy protocol. For example, in one embodiment, a patient therapy protocol which causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to turn the patient may be categorized as a high-risk patient therapy protocol and a patient therapy protocol which causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to incline the foot section of the patient support deck  140  may be categorized as a low-risk patient therapy protocol. In such an embodiment, the location requirement of the high-risk patient therapy protocol may require the caregiver to be adjacent to the patient support apparatus  100  whereas the location requirement of the low-risk patient therapy protocol may require the caregiver to be in-wing. Of course, it should be noted that the patient therapy protocol may be categorized as a low-risk patient therapy protocol, a medium-risk patient therapy protocol, or a high-risk patient therapy protocol based on the medical procedure data, the patient characteristic data, the patient condition, the state of the patient support apparatus, the patient&#39;s preferences, the medication data, the prior injury data, or combinations thereof. 
     Similarly, the therapy management system  193  may determine the location requirement based on the patient&#39;s preferences, the medication data, and/or the prior injury data. In an example embodiment, the location requirement may be in-room to for each instance of the patient therapy protocol if the patient has recently suffered a knee injury and if the patient therapy protocol is of a type that would cause the actuators  121 ,  122  to move the patient&#39;s knee. 
     It should be noted that the therapy management system  193  may receive the medical procedure data, the patient characteristic data, the patient condition, the state of the patient support apparatus, the medication data, and the prior injury data in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the caregiver or the patient may supply the above data, states, and conditions to the therapy management system  193 . In further embodiments, the caregiver or the patient may supply the data, states, and conditions to the controller  195  via the input devices  198 ,  199 . In still other embodiments, the therapy management system  193  may receive the data, states, and conditions from a database such as an electronic medical record or from sensors connected to or included within the therapy management system  193 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the therapy management system  193  includes a memory  203  and a processor  202 , which may be used for storing and processing the medical procedure data, the patient characteristic data, the patient condition, the state of the patient support apparatus, the patient&#39;s preferences, the medication data, and the prior injury data. The processor  202  may be any processor suitable for processing data. For example, the processor  202  may be a processor typically found in a desktop computer or a processor typically found in a mobile processing device such as a cellular phone, a tablet, or a laptop. Similarly, the memory  203  may be any memory suitable for storage of data and computer-readable instructions. For example, the memory  203  may be a local memory, an external memory, or a cloud-based memory embodied as random access memory (RAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), flash memory, or any other suitable form of memory. 
     The location requirement may also vary for different patient therapy protocols. As noted above, the patient therapy protocol may depend on a variety of factors, including the medical procedure data, the patient characteristic data, the caregiver observation data, the patient condition of the patient, the state of the patient support apparatus, the risk level of the patient therapy protocol, the patient&#39;s preferences, the medication data, the prior injury data, or combinations thereof. For example, as previously discussed, the location requirement may differ between two different patient therapy protocols based on the risk level of the two different patient therapy protocol. 
     Furthermore, whether the location requirement is used to ensure that the caregiver is within a specified range of the patient support apparatus  100  before an instance of the patient therapy protocol is initiated or throughout a time that an instance of the patient therapy protocol is executed may also be based on the medical procedure data, the patient characteristic data, the caregiver observation data, the patient condition of the patient, the state of the patient support apparatus, the patient&#39;s preferences, the medication data, the prior injury data, or combinations thereof. For example, in a more urgent situation, such as a situation where the vital signs of the patient indicate that the patient may enter cardiac arrest, the location requirement may be enforced throughout an instance of the patient therapy protocol, at periodic intervals, such as every 5 minutes. Conversely, if the patient is in a stable condition, the location requirement may only be enforced before initiating an instance of the patient therapy protocol. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the input devices  198 ,  199  via the communication network  191  and may be configured to transmit a notification signal to the input devices  198 ,  199 . The notification signal may cause the input devices  198 ,  199  to display a text or graphic display, illuminate an external light, activate an audible alarm, vibrate, and/or generate any other suitable notification. 
     It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the input devices  198 ,  199  without the communication network  191 . For example, in an embodiment where the input devices  198 ,  199  are the user interface of the patient support apparatus  100  and the therapy management system  193  is disposed within the patient support apparatus  100 , the input devices  198 ,  199  may be in direct communication with the therapy management system  193 . As such, the therapy management system  193  may receive the selection of the patient therapy protocol  100  and transmit the notification signal to the input devices  198 ,  199  without the communication network  191 . 
     Additionally, the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the location system  197  and may receive a location input signal from the location system  197 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the location system  197  via the communication network  191 . As such, the therapy management system  193  is able to receive the location input signal even if the therapy management system  193  is not in direct communication with the location system  197 . For example, in the previously stated embodiment where the location system  193  includes the GPS of the first input device  198 , the therapy management system  193  may receive the location input signal from the GPS of the first input device  198  via a cellular signal or via a WiFi connection. 
     In some embodiments, the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the location system  197  without the communication network  191 . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1   , the location system  197  and the therapy management system  193  are disposed within the patient support apparatus  100 . In such an embodiment, the location system  197  and the therapy management system  193  may be in direct communication with each other. As such, the therapy management system  193  may receive the location input signal from the location system  197  without the use of the communication network  191 . 
     Also shown in  FIG.  2   , the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the patient support apparatus  100 . In this way, the therapy management system  193  may transmit the patient-moving output signal to the actuators  121 ,  122  of the patient support apparatus  100  to cause movement of the one or more actuatable devices  120 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the patient support apparatus  100  via the communication network  191 . In such an embodiment, the patient support apparatus  100  may transmit the patient-moving output signal to a controller of the patient support apparatus  100  via the communication network  191 . The controller of the patient support apparatus  100  may then transmit the patient-moving output signal to the actuators  121 ,  122  of the patient support apparatus  100 . For example, in the previously stated embodiment where the therapy management system  193  may be mounted to a ceiling of a hospital room, the therapy management system  193  may use the hospital&#39;s WiFi connection to transmit the patient-moving output signal to the controller of the patient support apparatus  100 . In this way, the therapy management system  193  is able to cause one or more actuatable devices  120  of the patient support apparatus  100  to move the patient, even if the therapy management system  193  is separated from the patient support apparatus  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the patient support apparatus  100  without the communication network  191 . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1   , the therapy management system  193  is disposed within the patient support apparatus  100 . In such an embodiment, the therapy management system  193  may transmit the patient-moving output signal directly to a controller of the patient support apparatus  100  to initiate the selected patient therapy protocol without the communication network  191 . In another such embodiment, the therapy management system  193  may transmit the patient-moving output signal directly to the actuators  121 ,  122  of the patient support apparatus  100  without the communication network  191 . 
     Additionally, the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the override system  194  and may receive a control signal from the override system  194 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the override system  194  via the communication network  191 . In such an embodiment, the override system  194  may transmit the control signal to the therapy management system  193  via the communication network  191 . For example, in the previously stated embodiment where the override system  194  is in communication with the input devices  198 ,  199 , the therapy management system  193  may receive the control signal via a cellular signal or via a WiFi connection. 
     However, in other embodiments, the therapy management system  193  may be coupled to the override system  194  without the communication network  191 . For example, in an embodiment where the override system  194  is a touchscreen display disposed on the patient support apparatus  100  and the therapy management system  193  is disposed within the patient support apparatus  100 , the override system  194  and the therapy management system  193  may be in direct communication with each other. As such, the therapy management system  193  may receive the control signal without the communication network  191 . 
     As described above, the override system  194  may transmit the control signal to the therapy management system  193 . In some embodiments, the control signal may be an acceptance of the patient therapy protocol, a denial of the patient therapy protocol, a modification to the patient therapy protocol, a selection of a different patient therapy protocol, or combinations thereof. In this way, the override system  194  allows a caregiver to immediately adjust the patient therapy protocol if necessary. 
     To further aid in understanding the system  10  for managing patient therapy protocols,  FIG.  3 A  provides a flowchart illustrating a method of managing patient therapy protocols, which may be executed by the therapy management system  193 . As shown in  FIG.  3 A , the method includes a step  300  of providing the patient support apparatus  100 , the input devices  198 ,  199 , the location system  197 , and the therapy management system  193 . The method also includes a step  310  of receiving a selection of the patient therapy protocol from the first input device  198  and a step  320  of executing an instance of the patient therapy protocol. 
     An example embodiment is used herein to further explain the method. The selected patient therapy protocol received during step  310  may, when executed, cause the actuators  121 ,  122  to elevate the foot section of the patient support deck  140  every hour for five hours. During step  320 , the method may execute an instance of the selected patient therapy protocol and elevate the foot section of the patient support deck  140 . This embodiment is referred to herein as the “the foot elevation embodiment”. 
     Step  320  is further illustrated in  FIG.  3 B . As shown, the method includes a step  314  of determining whether a trigger condition for the instance of the patient therapy protocol is satisfied. If the trigger condition is satisfied, the method continues to a next step and may eventually execute the instance of the patient therapy protocol. If the trigger condition is not satisfied, the method proceeds in a loop and continues determining whether the trigger condition for the instance of the patient therapy protocol is satisfied. 
     During step  314 , the method may determine whether the trigger condition for the instance of the patient therapy protocol is satisfied based on an amount of time. In the foot elevation embodiment, the method, during step  314 , determines whether an hour has passed since the last instance of the patient therapy protocol or since the patient therapy protocol was selected during step  310 . If an hour has passed, the trigger condition for the instance of the patient therapy protocol is satisfied. 
     In another embodiment of step  314 , the method may determine whether to execute the first instance of the patient therapy protocol based on a sensed parameter. For example, in the embodiment where the patient therapy protocol causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to turn the patient based on the risk of acquiring a pressure ulcer, the method may receive the sensed moisture level of the patient support apparatus  100 , the activity level of the patient, and/or the friction measurement between the patient and the patient support apparatus  100  and calculate the risk of acquiring a pressure ulcer during step  314 . In such an embodiment, if the risk of acquiring a pressure ulcer exceeds a certain threshold, the trigger condition is satisfied. 
     In other embodiments of step  314 , the method may determine whether the trigger condition for the patient therapy protocol is satisfied based on determining whether the selected patient therapy protocol is an allowable patient therapy protocol. The method may determine whether the selected patient therapy protocol is an allowable patient therapy protocol based on the medical procedure data, the patient characteristic data, the caregiver observation data, the patient condition of the patient, the state of the patient support apparatus, the patient&#39;s preferences, the medication data, the prior injury data, or combinations thereof. For example, in an embodiment where the patient therapy protocol causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to turn the patient, the method may determine whether the trigger condition is satisfied based on whether the side rails  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174  of the patient support apparatus  100  are in the raised position. In an embodiment where patient therapy protocol causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to incline the back section of the patient support deck  140 , the method may determine whether the trigger condition is satisfied based on whether patient has recently undergone back surgery. 
     It should be appreciated that the method may exit step  314  before determining whether an instance of the patient therapy protocol should be executed. In one embodiment, the method may wait a predetermined or programmable amount of time before exiting step  314 . For example, the method may exit step  314  if the method has not determined whether an instance of the patient therapy protocol should be executed after 6 hours. In another embodiment, the method may exit step  314  if the caregiver aborts the patient therapy protocol. For example, in one embodiment, the method may exit step  314  if the caregiver denies the patient therapy protocol using the override system  194 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3 B , after determining that the first instance of the patient therapy protocol should be executed, the method proceeds to a step  311  of receiving a first caregiver location input signal corresponding to a location of the first caregiver  195 . The method then proceeds to a step  313  of determining whether or not the first caregiver location input signal satisfies the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol. In the foot elevation embodiment, the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol may require a caregiver to be in the same room as the patient support apparatus  100  when the foot section of the patient support deck  140  is being elevated. As such, the method may, in the foot elevation embodiment, receive the location of the first caregiver  195  during step  311  and determine whether the first caregiver  195  is in the same room as the patient support apparatus  100 . 
     If the first caregiver location input signal satisfies the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol, the method may proceed to a step  353  of transmitting a notification signal to the first input device  198 . During step  353 , the method transmits the notification signal to the first input device  198  to notify the first caregiver  195  of the instance of the patient therapy protocol. 
     Once the first caregiver  195  is notified of the instance of the patient therapy protocol, the method may proceed to a step  354  of receiving a response to notifying the first caregiver  195  of the selected patient therapy protocol via the first input device  198 . The response received during step  354  may include an acceptance of the instance of the patient therapy protocol, a denial of the instance of the patient therapy protocol, a modification to the instance of the patient therapy protocol, a selection of a different patient therapy protocol, or combinations thereof. For example, in the foot elevation embodiment, the first caregiver  195  may, via the first input device  198 , accept an elevation of the foot section of the patient support deck  140 , deny the elevation of the foot section of the patient support deck  140 , modify the patient therapy protocol so that the thigh section of the patient support deck  140  is elevated instead, or select a patient therapy protocol which causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to turn the patient. 
       FIG.  3 C  provides a flowchart illustrating the step  320  if the method receives the response during step  354 . If the response received during step  354  is the acceptance of the instance of the patient therapy protocol, the method proceeds to a step  315  of transmitting the patient-moving output signal to the patient support apparatus  100  to execute the instance of the selected patient therapy protocol, as shown in  FIG.  3 C . In the foot elevation embodiment, if the first caregiver  195  accepts the patient therapy protocol, the patient-moving output signal is transmitted and the foot section of the patient support deck  140  is elevated. 
     However, if the response received during step  354  is the denial of the instance of the patient therapy protocol, the modification to the instance of the patient therapy protocol, or the selection of a different patient therapy protocol, the method may proceed differently. For example, if the response received during step  354  is the denial of the instance of the patient therapy protocol, the method may proceed to step  302 , or an end of the method. During step  302 , the method may reposition the patient support apparatus  100  back to its initial state and return to step  301 , a start of the method. 
     If the response received during step  354  is the modification to the instance of the patient therapy protocol, the therapy management system  193  may modify the patient therapy protocol during step  359  before proceeding to step  315  to execute the modified patient therapy protocol. If the response received during step  354  is the selection of the different patient therapy protocol, the method may return to step  314  and determine whether or not to execute the first instance of the different patient therapy protocol. 
     Furthermore, during step  354 , the method may wait a predetermined or programmable amount of time for the response to notifying the first caregiver  195 . If the method does not receive the response to notifying the first caregiver  195  within the predetermined or programmable amount of time, the method may timeout and proceed to a step  353 ′ of transmitting a notification signal to the first input device  198  and/or the second input device  199  to notify the first caregiver  195  and/or the second caregiver  196  that the method did not receive the response from the first caregiver  195  within the predetermined or programmable amount of time. In other embodiments, the method may proceed to step  302 , the end of the method, if the method does not receive the response from the first caregiver  195  within the predetermined or programmable amount of time. 
     In some embodiments, depending on the type of the patient therapy protocol, the method may proceed to step  315  and execute the instance of the patient therapy protocol even if the method does not receive the response from the first caregiver  195 . In such embodiments, the method may execute the instance of the patient therapy protocol for a period of time, such as five minutes, before proceeding to step  353 ′. The method may also continue waiting for the response from the first caregiver  195  while executing the patient therapy protocol for the period of time. 
     Similarly, if the location of the first caregiver  195  does not satisfy the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol during step  313 , the method may also proceed to step  353 ′. Here, however, the method transmits a notification signal to the first input device  198  and/or the second input device  199  to notify the first caregiver  195  and/or the second caregiver  196  that the location of the first caregiver  195  does not satisfy the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol. 
     Furthermore, if the first caregiver location input signal does not satisfy the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol, the method may proceed to step  311 ′ and step  313 ′. Step  311 ′ is similar to step  311  because, during both steps, the method receives a location input signal corresponding to a location of a caregiver. However, during step  311 ′, the method receives a second caregiver location input signal corresponding to a location of the second caregiver  196 . Similarly, step  313 ′ is similar to step  313  because, during both steps, the method determines whether the caregiver location input signal satisfies the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol. However, during step  313 ′, the method determines whether or not the second caregiver location input signal satisfies the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol. In the foot elevation embodiment, the method first receives the location of the second caregiver  196  during step  311 ′. The method may then determine whether the second caregiver  196  is in the same room as the patient support apparatus  100  during step  313 ′. 
     If the second caregiver location input signal does not satisfy the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol, the method may proceed to step  302 , the end of the method. However, in some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2   , the system  10  may include a third input device  201  for a third caregiver. In such embodiments, the method may first proceed to a step  353 ′″ where the method transmits a notification signal to the third input device  201  to notify the third caregiver that the second caregiver location input signal does not satisfy the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol. As shown in  FIG.  3 B , the method may then proceed to step  302 , the end of the method. 
     If the second caregiver location input signal does satisfy the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol during step  313 ′, the method may then proceed to a step  358  of determining whether a permission level of the second caregiver  199  satisfies a permission requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol. In some embodiments, the permission level of the caregiver may be based on a hospital hierarchy. For example, the permission level of the caregiver may be based on whether the caregiver is a nurse, a medical intern, a medical student, a physician assistant, a resident, a doctor, or a surgeon. In other embodiments, the permission level of the caregiver may be based on a floor or unit of the hospital. For example, the permission level may require the caregiver to be assigned to the same floor or unit of the hospital as the patient. In the foot elevation embodiment, the selected patient therapy protocol may require that the caregiver be a nurse, a doctor, or a medical intern. As such, the method, during step  358 , determines whether the second caregiver  196  is a nurse, a doctor, or a medical intern. 
     If the permission level of the second caregiver  196  does not satisfy the permission requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol, the method may notify the third caregiver that the second caregiver  196  does not satisfy the permission requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol during step  353 ′″ before proceeding to the end of the method. 
     If the permission level of the second caregiver  196  satisfies the permission requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol, the method may proceed to step  353 ″. During step  353 ″, the method may notify the second caregiver  196  of the instance of the patient therapy protocol and that the second caregiver  196  satisfies both the permission requirement and the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3 B , the method may then proceed to step  354 ′. Step  354 ′ is similar to step  354  because, during both steps, the method determines whether a response to notifying a caregiver has been received. Furthermore, during both steps, the method may receive the acceptance of the instance of the patient therapy protocol, the denial of the instance of the patient therapy protocol, the modification to the instance of the patient therapy protocol, the selection of a different patient therapy protocol, or combinations thereof, and proceed as previously discussed and shown in  FIG.  3 C . However, during step  354 ′, the method receives a response to notifying the second caregiver  196  via the second input device  199 . If the response received during step  354 ′ is the acceptance of the instance of the patient therapy protocol, the method proceeds to a step  315  of transmitting the patient-moving output signal to the patient support apparatus  100  to execute the instance of the selected patient therapy protocol, as shown in  FIG.  3 C . 
     Furthermore, it should be noted that, during step  354 ′, the method may timeout and proceed to step  353 ′″ if the method does not receive the response to notifying the second caregiver  196  within a predetermined or programmable amount of time. During step  353 ′″, the method may transmit a notification signal to the third input device  201  to notify the third caregiver that the method did not receive the response from the second caregiver  196  within the predetermined or programmable amount of time. 
     In other embodiments, the method may proceed to step  315  even if the method does not receive the response to notifying the second caregiver  196  during step  354 ′. In such embodiments, the method may execute the instance of the patient therapy protocol for a period of time, such as five minutes, before proceeding to step  353 ′″ and step  302 , the end of the method. The method may also continue waiting for the response from the second caregiver  196  while executing the patient therapy protocol for the period of time. 
     Referring now back to  FIG.  3 A , once the method completes step  320 , the method returns to the beginning of step  320  to execute another instance of the patient therapy protocol. The method repeats step  320  in accordance with the selected patient therapy protocol. For example, in some embodiments, the method may repeat step  320  for a predetermined or programmable number of instances. In another embodiment, the method may repeat step  320  for a predetermined or programmable amount of time. In yet another embodiment, the method may repeat step  320  until the caregiver ends the method. In other embodiments, the method may repeat step  320  based on the medical procedure data, the patient characteristic data, the caregiver observation data, the patient condition of the patient, the state of said patient support apparatus, the risk level of the selected patient therapy protocol, the patient&#39;s preferences, the medication data, the prior injury data, or combinations thereof. In the foot elevation embodiment, the selected patient therapy protocol received during step  310  causes the actuators  121 ,  122  to elevate the foot section of the patient support deck  140  every hour for five hours. Therefore, in the foot elevation embodiment, step  320  is repeated five times. 
     It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the method shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the method determines whether the location of the caregiver satisfies the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol before transmitting the patient-moving output signal to the patient support apparatus  100  to execute an instance of the selected patient therapy protocol. In other embodiments of the method, the method may also determine whether the location of the caregiver satisfies the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol throughout a time that an instance of the selected patient therapy protocol is executed. For example, the method may, in the foot elevation embodiment, require the caregiver to be in the same room as the patient support apparatus  100  while the foot section of the patient support deck  140  is being elevated. 
       FIG.  4 A  provides a flowchart illustrating an embodiment where the method determines whether the location of the caregiver satisfies the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol throughout a time that an instance of the selected patient therapy protocol is executed. Just as the method shown in  FIG.  3 A  included step  300 , step  310 , and  320 , the method shown in  FIG.  4 A  also includes step  300 , step  310 , and step  320 . However, as shown in  FIG.  4 A , step  320  includes a step  410  of monitoring the location of the caregiver. As such, the method monitors the location of the caregiver throughout the time that the instance of the patient therapy protocol is executed. 
       FIG.  4 B  provides a flowchart further illustrating step  410 . As shown in  FIG.  4 A , step  410  begins after the method transmits the patient-moving output signal to the patient support apparatus  100  to execute the instance of the patient therapy protocol during step  315 . As such, it should be understood that step  410  occurs while the method is executing the instance of the patient therapy protocol. In the foot elevation embodiment, step  410  occurs while the foot section of the patient support deck  140  is being elevated. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 B , step  410  shares some of the same steps as step  320 , as shown in  FIG.  3 B . For example, steps  311 ,  311 ′,  313 ,  313 ′,  315 ,  353 ′,  353 ″,  353 ′″,  354 ′, and  358  are all included in step  410  and have all been discussed in the previous discussion of step  320 . Step  410  does, however, deviate from step  320  in some regards. 
     For example, while step  320  of  FIG.  3 B  begins with step  314 , the step of determining whether or not to execute the instance of the patient therapy protocol, step  410  of  FIG.  4 B  begins by receiving the first caregiver location input signal corresponding to the location of the first caregiver  195  during step  311 . This is because step  410  occurs while the method is executing the instance of the patient therapy protocol. In the foot elevation embodiment, the location of the caregiver  195  is received during step  311  while the foot section of the patient support deck  140  is being elevated. 
     After the method receives the first location input signal during step  311 , the method may determine whether the instance of the patient therapy protocol is still being executed during a step  412 . In the foot elevation embodiment, the method determines whether the foot section of the patient support deck  140  is still being elevated during step  412 . If the instance of the patient therapy protocol is no longer being executed, the method proceeds to step  302 , the end of the method. However, if the instance of the patient therapy protocol is still being executed, the method may proceed to step  313 , where the method determines if the first caregiver location input signal satisfies the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol. If the first caregiver location input signal satisfies the location requirement, the method may repeat step  311  to again receive the first caregiver location input signal. Otherwise, the method may proceed to step  353 ′, step  311 ′, step  313 ′, etc. as the method does during step  320  of the method. 
     Furthermore, because the instance of the patient therapy protocol is being executed during step  410 , step  410  includes a step  411  of terminating the patient-moving output signal to the patient support apparatus  100 . As shown in  FIG.  4 B , if the method determines that the second caregiver location input signal does not satisfy the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol, if the method determines that the permission level of the second caretaker  196  does not satisfy the permission requirement of the patient therapy protocol, or if the method does not receive a response during step  354 ′, the method may proceed to step  411  and terminate the patient-moving output signal to cease execution of the selected patient therapy protocol before ultimately proceeding to step  302 , the end of the method. In the foot elevation embodiment, terminating the patient-moving output signal during step  411  would cease the elevation of the foot section of the patient support deck  140 . The method may then lower the foot section of the patient support deck  140  to its initial position during step  302 , the end of the method. 
       FIG.  4 C  provides a flowchart illustrating the step  410  if the method receives a response during step  354 ′. As shown if the response is the acceptance of the selected patient therapy protocol, the method repeats step  311 ′, step  412 , and step  313 ′. Here, however, if the second caregiver location does not satisfy the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol during step  412 , the method proceeds to step  411  and ultimately to step  302 , the end of the method. If the second caregiver location does satisfy the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol, the method returns to step  311 ′ to once again receive the second caregiver location input signal. 
     Furthermore, the method may proceed to step  411  if the method receives the denial of the instance of the patient therapy protocol during step  354 ′ the method may proceed to step  411  and terminate the patient-moving output signal to the patient support apparatus  100  before proceeding to step  302 , the end of the end of the method. If the method receives the modification of the instance of the patient therapy protocol during step  354 ′, the method may modify the patient therapy protocol during step  359  before returning to step  315  in  FIG.  4 B . If the method receives the selection of a different patient therapy protocol, the method may return to step  314  in  FIG.  3 B . 
     Additionally, in some embodiments of  FIG.  4 B , the method may continue transmitting the patient-moving output signal for a period of time, such as five minutes, even if the method does not receive the response to notifying the second caregiver  196  during step  354 ′. 
     In the previously described methods, the methods may, at any time, receive the control signal from the override system  194 . Similar to the response received during step  354  and step  354 ′ of the previously described methods, the control signal may be the acceptance of the patient therapy protocol, the denial of the patient therapy protocol, the modification to the patient therapy protocol, the selection of a different patient therapy protocol, or combinations thereof. As such, the method may proceed after receiving the control signal in the same way the method would proceed after receiving the response during step  354 . For example, if the control signal is the denial of the patient therapy protocol, the method may proceed to step  302 , or the end of the method. For reference, the method would proceed in the same way in response to receiving the denial of the patient therapy protocol during step  354 . 
     It is to be understood that the method may be adapted for embodiments with a greater number of input devices and/or caregivers. For example, the method, after determining that the second caregiver location input signal does not satisfy the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol during step  313 ′, may repeat steps  353 ′,  311 ′,  313 ′,  358 ,  353 ″, and  354 ′ to determine whether any other input devices and/or any other caregivers satisfy the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol. In other words, if the method determines that the first caregiver  195  and second caregiver  196  do not satisfy the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol, the method may determine whether any other caregiver satisfies the location requirement. 
     It is to be appreciated that the steps shown in the above described methods may be ordered in any suitable fashion. For example, referring back to  FIG.  3 B , the method may determine whether the permission level of the second caregiver  196  satisfies the permission requirement of the patient therapy protocol during step  358  before determining whether or not the second caregiver  196  satisfies the location requirement of the patient therapy protocol during step  313 . In another example from  FIG.  3 B , the method may receive the second caregiver location input signal during step  311 ′ before notifying the first caregiver  195  and/or second caregiver  196  that the first caregiver location input signal does not satisfy the location requirement of the selected patient therapy protocol during step  353 ′. 
     It should be understood that, while embodiments discussed herein describe techniques for managing patient therapy protocols of patient support apparatuses  100 , the techniques for managing patient therapy protocols may be applied to other medical devices. For instance, these medical devices may include equipment such as lights, televisions, temperature management systems, respirators, IV lines, heart rate monitors, surgical tools, or any other devices that may be used in medical procedures or in the provision of medical services to patients. Therefore, the techniques for managing patient therapy protocols may apply to any of the above-described medical devices, or any other medical device that may be used in medical procedures or in the provision of medical services to patients. 
     It will be further appreciated that the terms “include,” “includes,” and “including” have the same meaning as the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising.” Moreover, it will be appreciated that terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like are used herein to differentiate certain structural features and components for the non-limiting, illustrative purposes of clarity and consistency. 
     Several configurations have been discussed in the foregoing description. However, the configurations discussed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to any particular form. The terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.