Enhancing situational awareness in health systems: A scoping review of technologies and cross-industry insights

Background Situational awareness technologies are increasingly utilised in healthcare systems to facilitate timely and coordinated decision-making. Reported implementation considerations include data quality, governance, and integration into everyday workflows. Objective This scoping review aimed to map technologies, systems, and methods used to enhance situational awareness in health service delivery and to identify approaches used in other industries that could be adapted for healthcare, particularly in regional and remote settings. Methods We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance for scoping reviews. Electronic databases (PubMed and Web of Science) were searched for studies published between January 2000 and October 2025. Reference lists and citation searches in Google Scholar were also examined. Records meeting the inclusion criteria were screened and reviewed, with key data extracted using a structured charting form and synthesised into seven application domains. Results Searches identified 744 records, of which 23 studies were included. These covered diverse technologies such as dashboards, forecasting models, alert systems, and geospatial decision environments. Most studies were from high-income countries (n = 19). Studies reported potential benefits for visibility, coordination, and decision-making. However, most evidence was descriptive, with limited evidence of whether these systems improve service delivery. Recurrent implementation challenges included data fragmentation, limited interoperability, and misalignment between governance and workflow. Conclusions This review highlights the need for more rigorous and context-sensitive evaluations of technologies used to enhance situational awareness in healthcare, especially in regional and resource-limited settings.