Typically, the captured physiological data is transmitted directly to the hub device 60 using the communication unit 68, 70. However, the captured physiological data can be indirectly transmitted to the hub device 60. For example, the sensor devices 56, 58 can transmit the physiological data to a patient-carried unit with, for example, body coupled communications. The patient-carried unit can then transmit the physiological data from all of the sensor devices 56, 58 to the hub device 60.

The hub device 60 one or more of: 1) collects physiological data from the sensor devices 56, 58; 2) manages the sensor devices 56, 58 (e.g., acts as a personal area network (PAN) coordinator); 3) processes collected physiological data locally, typically in real-time; and 4) transfers collected physiological data to a patient monitoring system 80 of the medical institution 50. The hub device 60 is typically disposed proximate to the patient 54. Further, the hub device 60 is typically one of a local bedside monitoring unit, a cell phone, a set-top-box, or other wireless device.

A controller 82 of the hub device 60 can be configured to control an MBAN communication unit 84 of the hub device 60 to set up the MBAN 62, associate/disassociate the sensor device 56, 58 and other devices with the MBAN 62, and so on. The controller 82 can also be configured to collect the captured physiological data from the sensor devices 56, 58 using the MBAN communication unit 84. The MBAN communication unit 84 communicates with the sensor devices 56, 58 using the MBAN 62 and provides the controller 82 with an interface to the MBAN 62.