A power-assist apparatus for use with hospital beds has at least one drive
wheel interconnected to a frame of the hospital bed so as to be movable
between a first position in which the drive wheel is positioned in spaced
relationship to an underlying surface and a second position in which the
drive wheel resiliently contacts the underlying surface. A controller is
cooperative with the drive wheel so as to move the drive wheel between
the first and second positions. A motor is drivably connected to the
drive wheel. A handle is connected to the frame of the bed so as to
extend upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The handle has control
mechanisms for controlling the drive wheel and the motor.