A smart hospital bed can provide a solution for reducing hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU) in immobile patients. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) estimates that it costs the U.S. healthcare system $3.6 billion each year to treat pressure ulcers. On average, each HAPU costs $39K to treat per patient stay. Preventing pressure ulcers without a smart mattress requires hospital staff to frequently monitor the patient’s position. By adding a bladder system to a mattress, pressure in each bladder section can be used to determine a patient sleeping position and duration. An electronic system utilizes the sensor input to alert hospital staff that a patient’s position needs to be adjusted to prevent a pressure ulcer. This system can also detect if a patient is trying to exit the bed and signal caregivers to limit falls.​