A system comprising: a remote computer device ; a patient bed in communication with the remote computer device , the patient bed having circuitry operable by a user to obtain at least one software application from the remote computer device; at least one patient care device located in a patient room with the patient bed , wherein the remote computer device has stored therein device application software associated with the at least one patient care device , wherein the device application software is downloaded to the circuitry of the patient bed , and wherein the patient bed has a user interface that is configured to be used to provide inputs to the device application software for control of the at least one patient care device ; and an authentication software module that is configured to be executed prior to the user being permitted to communicate with and/or control the at least one patient care device , the authentication software module further being configured to: verify that the at least one software application is authorized for use on the patient bed , the at least one software application being unusable on the patient bed until verification has occurred; and verify that the at least one patient care device is authenticated when the at least one patient care device establishes communication with the circuitry of the patient bed , prior to permitting use of the at least one patient care device . a remote computer device ; a patient bed in communication with the remote computer device , the patient bed having circuitry operable by a user to obtain at least one software application from the remote computer device; at least one patient care device located in a patient room with the patient bed , wherein the remote computer device has stored therein device application software associated with the at least one patient care device , wherein the device application software is downloaded to the circuitry of the patient bed , and wherein the patient bed has a user interface that is configured to be used to provide inputs to the device application software for control of the at least one patient care device ; and an authentication software module that is configured to be executed prior to the user being permitted to communicate with and/or control the at least one patient care device , the authentication software module further being configured to: verify that the at least one software application is authorized for use on the patient bed , the at least one software application being unusable on the patient bed until verification has occurred; and verify that the at least one patient care device is authenticated when the at least one patient care device establishes communication with the circuitry of the patient bed , prior to permitting use of the at least one patient care device . verify that the at least one software application is authorized for use on the patient bed , the at least one software application being unusable on the patient bed until verification has occurred; and verify that the at least one patient care device is authenticated when the at least one patient care device establishes communication with the circuitry of the patient bed , prior to permitting use of the at least one patient care device . <EOS>