Abstract: A patient identification system for relating items with patients and ensuring that an identified item corresponds to an identified patient. The patient identification system includes a computer system (42) interconnected to a plurality of remote terminals (62) by conventional telephone wiring (66, 70). The patient identification system further including a portable bar code reading device (48) including a bar code wand (120), an LCD display (116) and a key pad (114). The portable bar code reading device (48) communicates via RF transmission with an RF/PLC modem (60).