A self-contained, wireless patient monitoring pad has wireless communication components, such as a transceiver, and a power source, such as a battery, which are built in during manufacture of the self-contained, wireless patient monitoring pad. The self-contained, wireless patient monitoring pad communicates with a patient monitoring system that can include a central monitoring point. A user activates the power source in the self-contained, wireless patient monitoring pad prior to putting the monitoring pad into service or use, so that the self-contained, wireless patient monitoring pad can be stored indefinitely without dissipating the energy stored within built-in the power supply.
