A method of delivering a patient using a transfer device having a base, a frame attached to the base, and a table assembly attached to the frame and supporting the patient which includes upper and lower tables (20a, 20b) surrounded by respective upper and lower counter-rotating belts (70a, 70b), the method comprising: moving the table assembly from a home position over the base to an extended position adjacent the base and above a first patient support surface with the upper and lower tables (20a, 20b) completely separated, while keeping the base stationary, the table assembly having a delivery side for delivering the patient with a delivery side plate (34', 35') of the upper table located along the delivery side, and having a driving side opposite the delivery side with a driving side plate (35', 34') of the upper table located along the driving side, wherein the delivery side plate (34', 35') and driving side plate (35', 34') are both movable between raised and lowered positions; moving the delivery side plate (34', 35') to the raised position to maintain a separation between the delivery side plate (34', 35') of the upper table and the lower table along the delivery side of the table assembly; moving the driving side plate (35', 34') to the lowered position to place the driving side plate (35', 34') of the upper table into forcible contact with the lower table along the driving side of the table assembly; and counter-rotating the upper and lower belts (70a, 70b) to offload the patient over the delivery side plate (34', 35') onto the first patient support surface while the delivery side plate (34', 35') of the upper table is separated from the lower table and the driving side plate (35', 34') of the upper table is in forcible contact with the lower table. moving the table assembly from a home position over the base to an extended position adjacent the base and above a first patient support surface with the upper and lower tables (20a, 20b) completely separated, while keeping the base stationary, the table assembly having a delivery side for delivering the patient with a delivery side plate (34', 35') of the upper table located along the delivery side, and having a driving side opposite the delivery side with a driving side plate (35', 34') of the upper table located along the driving side, wherein the delivery side plate (34', 35') and driving side plate (35', 34') are both movable between raised and lowered positions; moving the delivery side plate (34', 35') to the raised position to maintain a separation between the delivery side plate (34', 35') of the upper table and the lower table along the delivery side of the table assembly; moving the driving side plate (35', 34') to the lowered position to place the driving side plate (35', 34') of the upper table into forcible contact with the lower table along the driving side of the table assembly; and counter-rotating the upper and lower belts (70a, 70b) to offload the patient over the delivery side plate (34', 35') onto the first patient support surface while the delivery side plate (34', 35') of the upper table is separated from the lower table and the driving side plate (35', 34') of the upper table is in forcible contact with the lower table.