Systems, apparatus and methods for automatically counting medical objects, estimating blood loss and/or communicating between medical equipment

An intravenous (IV) pole comprising:

• a base having a plurality of wheels;
• a pole having first and second ends and extending from the base at the first end and standing generally perpendicular to the base with the second end being spaced apart from the base;
• a support extending from the second end of the pole to suspend medical items therefrom;
• and
• an integral RF or RFID antenna connected to the IV pole positioned proximate the support and running a predetermined length to define a read range that includes items suspended from the support or accessories connected to the pole;
• the accessories including a sponge counter rack connected relative to the pole, the sponge counter rack including a body for supporting a container for dispensing disposable sponge bags, each of the disposable sponge bags having a plurality of pockets for receiving used sponges, the body also having a plurality of supports for suspending one or more of the disposable sponge bags, the integral antenna being positioned such that it can detect a tag on one of the used sponges being inserted into one of the plurality of pockets of the disposable sponge bags when suspended by the plurality of supports of the body of the sponge counter rack.