A system for actively monitoring a patient includes at least one body-worn monitoring device that has at least one sensor capable of measuring at least one physiologic parameter and detecting at least one predetermined event. At least one intermediary device is, linked to the body-worn monitoring device by means of a first wireless network and at least one respondent device is linked to said at least one intermediary device by a second wireless network wherein the respondent device is programmed to perform a specified function automatically when the at least one predetermined event is realized. The monitoring device operates to periodically transmit patient status data to the intermediary device but the system predominantly operates in a quiet state, providing very low power consumption.