A method of facilitating the intra-departmental or inter-institutional transport of a patient or patients requiring the pulse oximeter monitoring, and wherein the pulse oximeters used for monitoring the patient may be of different manufacturers, comprising affixing to the patient a bandage apparatus having a modular emitter and detector receptacles incorporated thereon. Each different manufacturers' pulse oximeter probe is provided with modular housings adapted to matedly engage and/or disengage the receptacles of the disposable bandage apparatus, thus enabling the patient to be monitored by pulse oximeters of different manufacturers without changing the bandage apparatus.