A mobile processing device system for patient monitoring data acquisition includes a repository of information. The information associates a particular patient monitoring device type for displaying a particular patient parameter with a particular text label identifying the particular patient parameter. A portable processing device includes an imaging device for acquiring image data representing an image presenting patient parameter data from the particular patient monitoring device type. An image recognition processor uses the information, for analyzing the image data to identify the particular text label identifying the particular patient parameter and a value of the particular patient parameter. An output processor communicates data representing the particular patient parameter and the value to a destination.