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Prof. Cordula Wagner, PhD

CEO; professor 'Patient safety' at VU University / Amsterdam University Medical Center, the Netherlands

Activities

I’m a health services researcher and principal investigator who has supervised a large variety of national and international research projects in the field of quality management, change management and patient safety in health care, especially hospital care. Originally, I’ve studied physiotherapy and sociology. 

My main interest is the improvement of organisational structures and cultures to improve healthcare for patients. Therefore, it is important to find and evaluate valuable solutions improving healthcare for patients and supporting stakeholders engaged in healthcare. Based on scientific evidence, I strive for new knowledge and products supporting healthcare professionals and policy makers in their work, as well as monitoring day-to-day quality, safety risks and compliance to improve the sustainability of the healthcare system.

Publications

2024
Merten, H., Beekum, K. van, Brugman, I., Schlinkert, C., Schouten, B., Eikenhorst, L. van, Wagner, C.
Achtergrondrapport behorend bij het rapport: Van registratiedruk naar zinnig registreren voor patiëntveiligheid: inzicht in de implementatie, doorontwikkeling en huidige stand van zaken van de VMS-veiligheidsthema’s.
Utrecht: Nivel, 2024. 57 p.
2023
Baartmans, M., Tuyl, L. van, Wagner, C.
Samen leren van calamiteiten: ziekenhuisoverstijgende analyse van calamiteiten rond diagnostiek.
Dordrecht/Utrecht: mProve/Nivel, 2023. 16 p.
2016
Zwijnenberg, N.C., Hendriks, M., Delnoij, D.M.J., Veer, A.J.E. de, Spreeuwenberg, P., Wagner, C.
Understanding and using quality information for quality improvement: the effect of information presentation.
International Journal for Quality in Health Care: 2016, 28(6), p. 689-697.
2009
Zwaan, L., Thijs, A., Wagner, C., Wal, G. van der, Timmermans, D.R.M.
Design of a study on suboptimal cognitive acts in the diagnostic process, the effect on patient outcomes and the influence of workload, fatigue and experience of physician.
BMC Health Services Research: 2009, 9(65)
2009
Smits, M., Wagner, C., Spreeuwenberg, P., Wal, G. van der, Groenewegen, P.P.
Measuring patient safety culture: an assessment of the clustering of responses at unit level and hospital level.
Quality & Safety in Health Care: 2009, 18(4), p. 292-296.
2009
Smits, M., Janssen, J., Vet, R. de, Zwaan, L., Timmermans, D., Groenewegen, P., Wagner, C.
Analysis of unintended events in hospitals: inter-rater reliability of constructing causal trees and classifying root causes.
International Journal for Quality in Health Care: 2009, 21(4), p. 292-300.
2008
Leeuw, J.R.J. de, Veenhof, C., Wagner, C., Wiegers, T.A., IJzermans, J.C., Schellevis, F.G., Bakker, D.H. de
Patiëntveiligheid in de eerstelijnsgezondheidszorg: stand van zaken.
Utrecht: NIVEL, 2008. 48 p.
2007
Zegers, M., Bruijne, M.C. de, Wagner, C., Groenewegen, P.P., Wal, G. van der
Design of a retrospective patient record study on occurrence of adverse events among patients in Dutch hospitals.
BMC Health Services Research: 2007, 7(27)
2007
Sluijs, E., Keijser, A., Wagner, C.
Kwaliteitssystemen in zorginstellingen: meer instellingen met certificaat.
Kwaliteit in Beeld: 2007, 17(4), p. 14-16.
2005
Wagner, C., Bruijne, M.C. de, Zegers, M., Hoonhout, L.H.F., Christiaans, I., Timmermans, D., Wal, G. van der
Patiëntveiligheid in Nederland: rapportage pilotstudie.
Utrecht/Amsterdam: NIVEL, VU Medisch Centrum, Instituut voor Extramuraal Geneeskundig Onderzoek, 2005. 24 p.
2003
Wagner, C.
Patiëntenveiligheid: de kern van kwaliteit van zorg.
Kwaliteit in Beeld: 2003, 13(1), p. 8-9.
2002
Oort, M.H.J. van, Wagner, C.
Een exploratieve studie naar kosten en effecten van kwaliteitssystemen in zes
TSG: Tijdschrift voor Gezondheidswetenschappen: 2002, 80(6), p. 393-399.
1999
Wagner, C., Visser, G.
Ketenkwaliteit: grensoverschrijdende kwaliteitsbewaking: een begrip met veel
Kwaliteit in Beeld: 1999, 9(3), p. 2-3.
1998
Wagner, C., Vening, R., Bakker, D.H. de
Verbetering van zorg voor specifieke patiëntencategorieën in de eerste lijn: eindevaluatie.
Utrecht/Eindhoven: NIVEL, Stichting Gezondheidscentra Eindhoven, 1998. 84 p. epd
1997
Casparie, A.F., Sluijs, E.M., Wagner, C., Bakker, D.H. de
Quality systems in Dutch health care institutions.
Health Policy: 1997, 42(3), p. 255-267.
1995
Wagner, C., Bakker, D.H. de, Sluijs, E.M.
Kwaliteitssystemen in instellingen: de stand van zaken in 1995.
Utrecht/Zoetermeer: NIVEL, Nationale Raad voor de Volksgezondheid, 1995. iv, 114 p.

CV

- Chairrman of the Board of Directors at Nivel (2016 – present)
- Professor of Patient Safety at VU University / Amsterdam University Medical Center, location VUmc (2009 – present)
- Head research center ‘Safety 4 Patients’ at Amsterdam University Medical Center, location VUmc / Amsterdam Public Health research institute (APH) (2006 – present)
- Senior lecturer in quality of care and patient safety, Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University medical center, Amsterdam (2006 – present)

2010: Oratie ‘Patiëntveiligheid. De paradox van innovatie en specialisatie’, VU University, Amsterdam
2008 - 2009: Graduate Diploma in Professional education for university lecturers, VU University
1995 - 1999: PhD Thesis ‘Implementation and Effectiveness of Quality Systems in Dutch health care organisations’, Faculty of medicine, VU University
1990 - 1994: Master of organisational and care sociology, University of Amsterdam 
1985 - 1989: Diploma Physiotherapy, Organisation for higher education (cum laude)

Member Board of Trustees of Equipe Zorgbedrijven (2026 - present)
Member Health Council of the Netherlands (2015 – present)
Member program committee ZonMw ‘Topspecialistische Zorg en Onderzoek’ (2019 – present)
Member Board of Trustees of De Hartekamp Groep (2024 - present)
Member Board of Trus

Various appointments over the last years for research projects and as an advisor for policy makers and professional groups. This comes from my large network and central position, combining scientific research and societal impact intees of Savant Zorg ( 2024 - present) the Netherlands.