Abstract: A system for gathering, displaying and analyzing vital sign data hospital patient. A handheld computer including a touchscreen and a barcode scanner is linked via a WLAN network to a database server which stores patient data at a central location. The handheld computer includes a browser program for displaying HTML data entry forms transmitted from the database server which the nurse/operator uses to supply vital signs data such as the patient's current temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration rate. Further data entry forms allow the entry of body intake and output amounts and the patients weight. A barcode scanner integrated with the handheld computer may be used to read patient and operatior identification values, as well as medication identification values, from printed media. The touchscreen controls allow current vital sign values to be incremented or decremented.