A system for processing at least one vital sign from a patient and generating an alarm, the system comprising: a first sensor comprising a first detector configured to detect a first time-dependent physiological waveform (51, 56, 61, 66) indicative of one or more contractile properties of the patient's heart; a second sensor comprising a second detector configured to detect a second time-dependent physiological waveform (50, 55, 60, 65) indicative of one or more contractile properties of the patient's heart; at least two motion-detecting sensors (14a, 14b, 14c) adapted to be positioned on separate locations on the patient's body, the locations being selected from a forearm, upper arm, and a body location other than the forearm or upper arm of the patient, each of the motion-detecting sensors generating at least one motion waveform (52, 57, 62, 67) indicative of motion of the location on the patient's body to which the motion-detecting sensor is affixed; a first processing component configured to receive the time-dependent physiological and motion waveforms and determine therefrom: (i) at least one vital sign calculated using at least one of the first and second time-dependent physiological waveforms; and (ii) at least one motion parameter corresponding to at least one of resting, standing, walking, running, falling, lying down, and convulsing, calculated using at least one motion waveform (52, 57, 62, 67) generated by each of the motion-detecting sensors (14a, 14b, 14c); and a second processing component configured to receive the at least one vital sign and the at least one motion parameter and determine therefrom: (i) a first alarm condition, calculated by comparing the at least one vital sign to a corresponding alarm threshold which is calculated from the at least one vital sign; (ii) a second alarm condition, calculated from the at least one motion parameter; and (iii) an alarm rule, determined by collectively processing the first and second alarm conditions with an alarm algorithm, the alarm rule indicating whether or not the system generates an alarm. a first sensor comprising a first detector configured to detect a first time-dependent physiological waveform (51, 56, 61, 66) indicative of one or more contractile properties of the patient's heart; a second sensor comprising a second detector configured to detect a second time-dependent physiological waveform (50, 55, 60, 65) indicative of one or more contractile properties of the patient's heart; at least two motion-detecting sensors (14a, 14b, 14c) adapted to be positioned on separate locations on the patient's body, the locations being selected from a forearm, upper arm, and a body location other than the forearm or upper arm of the patient, each of the motion-detecting sensors generating at least one motion waveform (52, 57, 62, 67) indicative of motion of the location on the patient's body to which the motion-detecting sensor is affixed; a first processing component configured to receive the time-dependent physiological and motion waveforms and determine therefrom: (i) at least one vital sign calculated using at least one of the first and second time-dependent physiological waveforms; and (ii) at least one motion parameter corresponding to at least one of resting, standing, walking, running, falling, lying down, and convulsing, calculated using at least one motion waveform (52, 57, 62, 67) generated by each of the motion-detecting sensors (14a, 14b, 14c); and a second processing component configured to receive the at least one vital sign and the at least one motion parameter and determine therefrom: (i) a first alarm condition, calculated by comparing the at least one vital sign to a corresponding alarm threshold which is calculated from the at least one vital sign; (ii) a second alarm condition, calculated from the at least one motion parameter; and (iii) an alarm rule, determined by collectively processing the first and second alarm conditions with an alarm algorithm, the alarm rule indicating whether or not the system generates an alarm.