Robotic Bedside Assistant Training in Cardiac Surgery: An Interview With Physician Assistant Amy Luckert

In this insightful interview, Cristina Ruiz Segria, CTSNet Senior Editor—Clinical Care Providers and nurse practitioner at James Cook University Hospital, UK, speaks with Amy Luckert, a physician assistant at Northwell Health, NY, USA, about bedside assistant training for robotic cardiac surgery care.  

They discuss the transition from being a bedside assistant for minimally invasive surgeries, such as minithoracotomy, to robotic cardiac surgery. During the conversation, they delve into the training of others to become bedside assistants, including the use of simulations to enhance the learning experience. They explore the benefits of simulations in training, the primary duties of a bedside assistant, and the number of cases required to reach an expert level. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of creating trust with one another and learning the “choreography” involved in surgeries. Additionally, they discuss the development of training programs and the significance of communication and networking to create these programs and establish standard protocols. Finally, Luckert offers valuable advice for those training to become bedside assistants. 

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