Patent ID: 8125318

Claim:
A wireless control system for use with a patient-support apparatus, the wireless control system comprising: a first receiver located on a side rail of the patient-support apparatus; a second receiver (i) located apart from any patient-support apparatus and (ii) electrically connected to a hospital room equipment other than the patient-support apparatus; and a wireless hand-held controller for use by a patient, the wireless hand-held controller including: (i) a plurality of patient-support control inputs selectable by the patient to control functions of the patient-support apparatus; (ii) a plurality of hospital room equipment inputs different from the patient-support control inputs and selectable by the patient to control functions of the hospital room equipment; (iii) a first transmitter configured to transmit patient-support control signals directly to the first receiver to control functions of the patient-support apparatus in response to the patient selecting one of the plurality of patient-support control inputs, and (iv) a second transmitter configured to transmit hospital room equipment control signals directly to the second receiver to control functions of the hospital room equipment in response to the patient selecting one of the plurality of hospital room equipment inputs, wherein the communication range of the first transmitter and the first receiver is less than the communication range of the second transmitter and the second receiver.