Patent ID: 7598853

Claim:
A location detection system for a facility, comprising: a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility, a locator fixed relative to said patient handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of said patient handling device, said locator including an AC plug for powering said patient handling device, and said locator including a transmitter mounted in said AC plug for transmitting said unique location identifier to a receiver, a processing station remote from said patient handling device and said locator for receiving said unique location identifier such that the location of said patient handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from said patient handling device, said receiver mounted to said patient handling device for receiving said unique location identifier from said locator, and a communication module mounted to said patient handling device and in communication with said receiver, said communication module having a unique ID for said patient handling device and transmitting said unique ID and said unique location identifier received by said receiver from said patient handling device to said processing station such that said patient handling device acts as a communication link between said locator and said processing station, and said processing station receiving said unique location identifier and said unique ID and correlating said unique location identifier with said unique ID and further correlating said unique ID of said patient handling device with a patient supported by said patient handling device wherein said processing station can track said patient handling device and the patient supported thereby.