A patient support apparatus comprising: a support frame configured to support a patient in a plurality of positions including a horizontal position; a first sensing device (136, 214, 218) supported on a component (120, 122, 124, 126, 228, 200, 300, 500) of the patient support apparatus; a second sensing device (138, 518) supported on the component, the second sensing device being a different type of sensing device than the first sensing device (136, 214, 218); and a control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900), removably coupled to a siderail (200, 300, 500), in communication with the first sensing device and the second sensing device (138, 518) to verify the identity of a person based on first identity information received by the first sensing device (136, 214, 218) and second identity information received by the second sensing device (138, 518), the first identity information being different than the second identity information, wherein: the first sensing device (136, 214, 218) and the second sensing device (138, 518) are coupled to the control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900); the siderail (200, 300, 500) has mounted thereto a plurality of bed function controls; the control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900) is configured to analyse vital signs data produced by the second sensing device 138, 518, the second sensing device being a pulse oximeter sensor apparatus, to determine a vital signs signature for the person for comparison to stored vital signs signatures to verify the identity of the person; and the control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900) initiates at least one electronically-controllable function of the patient support apparatus in response to the vital signs data. a support frame configured to support a patient in a plurality of positions including a horizontal position; a first sensing device (136, 214, 218) supported on a component (120, 122, 124, 126, 228, 200, 300, 500) of the patient support apparatus; a second sensing device (138, 518) supported on the component, the second sensing device being a different type of sensing device than the first sensing device (136, 214, 218); and a control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900), removably coupled to a siderail (200, 300, 500), in communication with the first sensing device and the second sensing device (138, 518) to verify the identity of a person based on first identity information received by the first sensing device (136, 214, 218) and second identity information received by the second sensing device (138, 518), the first identity information being different than the second identity information, wherein: the first sensing device (136, 214, 218) and the second sensing device (138, 518) are coupled to the control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900); the siderail (200, 300, 500) has mounted thereto a plurality of bed function controls; the control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900) is configured to analyse vital signs data produced by the second sensing device 138, 518, the second sensing device being a pulse oximeter sensor apparatus, to determine a vital signs signature for the person for comparison to stored vital signs signatures to verify the identity of the person; and the control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900) initiates at least one electronically-controllable function of the patient support apparatus in response to the vital signs data. the first sensing device (136, 214, 218) and the second sensing device (138, 518) are coupled to the control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900); the siderail (200, 300, 500) has mounted thereto a plurality of bed function controls; the control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900) is configured to analyse vital signs data produced by the second sensing device 138, 518, the second sensing device being a pulse oximeter sensor apparatus, to determine a vital signs signature for the person for comparison to stored vital signs signatures to verify the identity of the person; and the control module (132, 134, 212, 310, 510, 700, 900) initiates at least one electronically-controllable function of the patient support apparatus in response to the vital signs data.