A sensing system for a patient support, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, provides data about the patient and/or the patient support itself. The sensing system may include a flexible sheet that houses a sensor array that detects interface pressures between the patient and the support surface on the patient support. A user interface allows a caregiver to control operational parameters of the sensor array, including alarms. A color coded map may be displayed on the user interface highlighting the patient's currently experienced interface pressures. A control system coupled to the sensor array may map the sensor outputs to the body of the patient in order to correlate the interface pressures to specific parts of the patient's body. Shear pressure may, in some embodiments, also be detected by the sensor sheet.