Patient support apparatuses with reconfigurable communication

A patient support apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a support surface adapted to support a patient thereon;
• an interface adapted to couple to a cable having a plurality of electrical conductors;
• a plurality of switches electrically coupled to the interface;
• a user interface having a display;
• and
• a controller adapted to display on the display a plurality of identifiers, each identifier identifying a predefined configuration setting for the plurality of switches, the controller further adapted to allow a user to select one of the identifiers and to configure the plurality of switches according to the selected one of the identifiers.

A patient support apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a support surface adapted to support a patient thereon;
• a plurality of switches;
• an interface adapted to receive a multi-pin connector that electrically communicates with the plurality of switches such that a nurse call system off-board the patient support apparatus is able to determine a status of at least some of the plurality of switches via signals sent through the multi-pin connector;
• a transceiver adapted to communicate with a plurality of fixed transmitters;
• and
• a controller adapted to configure the plurality of switches according to a first setting when the transceiver receives a first message from a first one of the fixed transmitters and to configure the plurality of switches according to a second setting when the transceiver receives a second message from a second one of the fixed transmitters.