ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes a research perspective that focuses on the presence of safety and explores its texture. It outlines an alternative research agenda which concentrates on the resources of safety, notably the informal or unarticulated ones. Patient safety research aims to identify and eliminate causes of incidents. The analytical scope of exnovation questions dominant ways of understanding safety as defined as the absence of errors and incidents, and offers another perspective on clinicians in regard to patient safety. A spatial analysis of patient safety provides another conceptualization of both patient safety and space. By analysing processes of spatial fine-tuning in everyday practice, it becomes possible to identify spatial competences and circumstances that enable staff members to provide safe care. The chapter discusses the two different methodological tracks, first the 'classic' thorough analysis to gain insight and second the collaborative intervention to make a difference. It provides some examples of studies of sound and safe practices.
