Remote monitoring system for ambulatory patients

The monitoring device incorporates a memory device that is programmed with a set of question hierearchies. Each question hierarchy corresponds to a symptom and is composed of a set of questions. The question hierarchies may contain a logical structure so that certain questions will not be asked, depending upon a patient's answer to a preceeding question. A question hiearchy is invoked by a symptom identifier transmitted to the monitoring device by a remote computer. The remote computer may transmit a plurality of symptom identifiers to the monitoring device to cause the monitoring device to ask questions related to a plurality of symptoms. The set of symptoms inquired about may vary based upon the chronic disease afflicting the patient.