Patient support systems and methods for assisting caregivers with patient care

A patient support system comprising:

• a patient support apparatus comprising a patient support surface configured to support a patient;
• a touchscreen display comprising a user interface configured to receive input from a user and an information output device configured to provide a pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus with first and second selectable portions of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus, with the first selectable portion adapted to be engaged by the user with the touchscreen display and moved on the touchscreen display relative to one or more other portions of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus to control a first operational function of the patient support apparatus, and with the second selectable portion adapted to be engaged by the user with the touchscreen display and moved on the touchscreen display relative to the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus to control a second operational function of the patient support apparatus;
• and
• a controller disposed in communication with the touchscreen display and configured to:
• receive an input signal from the touchscreen display corresponding to one or more of:
• movement, at a first input speed, of the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus relative to the one or more other portions of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus occurring based on user engagement with the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display;
• and
• movement, at a second input speed, of the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus relative to the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus occurring based on user engagement with the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display,
• determine one or more of the first operational function and the second operational function of the patient support apparatus corresponding to the user engagement, and
• transmit a control signal for controlling one or more of:
• the first operational function of the patient support apparatus at a first operation speed based on the first input speed defined by the user engagement with the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display;
• and
• the second operational function of the patient support apparatus at a second operation speed based on the second input speed defined by the user engagement with the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display;
• wherein user engagement of the first selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display defines a first input motion having a first beginning, a first middle, and a first end;
• wherein the controller is further configured to determine the first operational speed based on interpolation of the first input speed by a first correlation factor including:
• a first beginning correlation factor defined at the first beginning of the first input motion,
• a first middle correlation factor defined at the first middle of the first input motion, and
• a first end correlation factor defined at the first end of the first input motion;
• wherein user engagement of the second selectable portion of the pictorial representation of the patient support apparatus on the touchscreen display defines a second input motion having a second beginning, a second middle, and a second end;
• and
• wherein the controller is further configured to determine the second operational speed based on interpolation of the second input speed by a second correlation factor including:
• a second beginning correlation factor defined at the second beginning of the second input motion,
• a second middle correlation factor defined at the second middle of the second input motion, and
• a second end correlation factor defined at the second end of the second input motion.