A wireless network for monitoring a patient (10) comprises at least one wearable monitor (12 and 70) including a physiological condition sensor (34 and 74) coupled to the patient (10) to sense and communicate data related to one physiological function of the patient (10). A first body communication unit (16 and 78) interfaces with at least one wearable monitor (12 and 70) to communicate over the patient (10) utilizing a near field capacitive body coupled protocol. A relay system (14, 5072) includes a second body communication unit (18, 52 and 80) that receives data from at least one wearable monitor (12 and 70) and communicates with the first body communication unit (16 and 78) utilizing the near field capacitive body coupled protocol. An external communication unit (22) communicates the data to a remote medical monitoring station via a cell phone network or the internet.
