PATIENT SUPPORT

A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, or cot, includes a patient support deck that is directly coupled to elevation adjustment mechanisms without the need for an intervening frame. The elevation adjustment mechanisms may be placed outside the perimeter of the support deck to allow the support deck to be lowered to a greater extent and provide room for attaching side rails to the support deck. The width of the patient support deck may be adjusted by way of extenders, and the sleep surface may also be adjusted by way of foldable strips. A jack type of actuator may be used to pivot the different sections of the support deck with respect to each other. The elevation adjustment mechanisms may include vertical threaded shafts that rotatingly engage threaded collars and raise or lower the collars when the shaft and the collar rotate with respect to each other.