The adoption of healthcare technologies has grown significantly, with real-time location systems (RTLSs) gaining particular attention. Despite decades of research, gaps persist in understanding the current state of the field and its future directions. This scoping review, conducted by PRISMA guidelines, identified 1718 articles retrieved from six databases, from which 83 were included. The findings reveal a dominance of U.S.-based case studies and a lack of systematic literature reviews. While RFID is the most commonly used technology, alternative solutions are emerging, though few studies explore their combined use. The emergency department is the most studied setting, focusing on patient flow. However, case study quality varies, which affects replicability, and literature reviews often fail to justify technological choices adequately. RTLS benefits include improved efficiency, enhanced patient safety, and cost reduction, but challenges such as precision issues and signal interference persist. RTLS also serves as a foundation for digital twins, integrating AI and Industry 4.0 technologies for more sustainable healthcare operations. Technological advancements may shift perceptions of RTLS challenges and benefits, highlighting the need for analysis by technology type and release date. Additionally, current MeSH terms fail to adequately cover healthcare technologies, resulting in the exclusion of relevant studies.

Introduction: Healthcare institutions seek performance improvement through methodologies like Lean healthcare. Despite technological advancements, indoor location tools remain underutilized. Yet, they promise efficiency gains, streamlined workflows, and cost reductions. Objective: This review aims to explore indoor location technologies in healthcare. It seeks to understand the research landscape, identify influential authors, institutions, and countries, and evaluate prevalent technologies and their adoption. It also investigates factors contributing to success or failure in published works. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, this review will search six databases. Two reviewers will independently extract data from selected studies, presenting results through narrative summaries, graphics, and tables. Conclusion: It is expected to provide a comprehensive insight into indoor location technology usage in healthcare, addressing critical aspects for future solution development.