Vital sign monitor utilizing historic patient data

A system for collecting vital sign measurements from one or more patients, the system comprising:

• a vital sign monitor operable to obtain current vital sign measurements from each of the patients, the vital sign monitor including at least a blood pressure sensor including an inflatable and deflatable non-invasive blood pressure cuff arranged to be worn around a limb of the patient and operatively connected to the vital sign monitor to provide blood pressure measurement data to the vital sign monitor;
• a patient identification device associated with each of the patients, the patient identification device including machine readable patient identification information for the patient;
• a detection device that reads the patient identification information from the machine readable identification device and provides the patient identification information to the vital sign monitor;
• a communication device for retrieving historic patient data information for the patient from a medical records database;
• and
• a control unit contained within the vital sign monitor that adjusts the operation of the vital sign monitor based upon the historic patient data information retrieved for the patient.