US Patent 11355236 Patient support apparatus communication systems

A patient support apparatus includes a frame, patient support surface, memory having a first key stored therein, a transceiver, and a controller. The transceiver wirelessly communicates with a medical device over a first mesh network using the first key. The controller transmits a request message over the first mesh network to the medical device via the transceiver. The request message includes an identifier identifying the patient support apparatus and a request to join a second mesh network different from the first mesh network. The controller receives a second key input over the first mesh network, uses the second key input to generate a second key, and to use the second key to communicate over the second mesh network. In some instances, the second key input originates from a cloud-based server storing a list of authorized devices for a particular healthcare facility.