Patent ID: 7886377

Claim:
A patient support apparatus comprising a frame, a push handle coupled to the frame and having a handle post, a power transport system coupled to the frame and operable to propel the apparatus along a floor, and a user interface coupled to the handle post, the user interface having at least one user input that is engageable to provide a signal to the power transport system, the user interface being rotatable relative to the handle post about an axis between a first position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing at an end of the frame and a second position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing alongside the frame, wherein the power transport system has a wheel that is movable between a first orientation in which the power transport system is operable to propel the apparatus substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the frame and a second orientation in which the power transport system is operable to propel the apparatus substantially parallel to a lateral dimension of the frame, and wherein the push handle is pushed forwardly and pulled rearwardly to signal the power transport system to propel the apparatus forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, and wherein the at least one user input is engageable to selectively toggle among a plurality of discrete speed settings at which the power transport system is operable.