A system and method are disclosed for an improved patient information management system in a medical setting. The present invention relates to a remote patient information system and method comprising workstations, handheld computers, and wireless portable printers or portable-computing and labeling systems that facilitate the fulfillment of orders for patient specimen collection performed manually in hospital environments. A handheld device receives and uses printer identifier information in order to establish a wireless temporary local area network thereby causing the printer to be dedicated to printing information solely from the handheld device for a predetermined number of patients. Information such as labels or messages are printed in order to facilitate tracking of patient information.