Abstract: A system for monitoring a patient by using a local area network (LAN) to connect a central monitor, located at a nurse's station, to one or more bedside monitors, wherein the bedside monitor measures the patient's condition, for instance an electrocardiogram (ECG). The LAN provides data from the bedside monitor to the central monitor at a rate sufficient for the central monitor to disply all information contained within the bedside monitor in substantially real time. The LAN also allows a user at the central station or at another bedside monitor to remotely read or adjust the bedside monitor settings.