Vital Signs Monitoring and Patient Tracking Over a Wireless Network

Patients at a disaster scene can greatly benefit from technologies that continuously monitor their vital status and track their location until they are admitted to a hospital. We have designed and developed a real-time patient monitoring system that integrates vital signs sensors, location sensors, ad hoc networking, electronic patient records, and web portal technology to allow remote monitoring of patient status. This system will facilitate communication among providers at the disaster scene, medical professionals at local hospitals, public health personnel, and specialists available for consultation from distant facilities.