Communication system for patient support apparatuses

A system for use in a healthcare facility having a network with at least one wireless access point, the system comprising:

• a patient support apparatus situated in a patient room of the healthcare facility, the patient support apparatus including a first Bluetooth (BT) transceiver configured for wireless BT communications and a first wireless fidelity (WiFi) transceiver for wireless communications with the at least one wireless access point of the healthcare facility,
• a wall unit mounted in the patient room and spaced apart from the patient support apparatus, the wall unit including a second BT transceiver configured for wireless BT communications with the first BT transceiver and a second WiFi transceiver for wireless communications with the at least one wireless access point of the healthcare facility, and
• at least one server remote from the patient room, the at least one server being in wired communication with the wall unit via a wired communication link, the at least one server communicating with the patient support apparatus via the wired communication link and via the first and second BT transceivers, the at least one server also being in communication with the first WiFi transceiver of the patient support apparatus via the at least one wireless access point, and the at least one server further being in communication with second WiFi transceiver of the wall unit via the at least one wireless access point.