Hillcrest Director Awarded for National EMS Week

Dr. Don Spaner spent much of his time at a recent EMS award ceremony in Columbus marveling at the accomplishments of others instead of his own.

"They had a lot of Star of Life awards," Spaner said of the Ohio American College of Emergency Physicians and Ohio Department of EMS event last week. "A lot of amazing rescues. One fire chief saved children out of a pool and resuscitated one. They really had a lot of neat categories."

What about the award Spaner received?

"I don't like to talk about it," he said before bursting into laughter.

Spaner, the Cleveland Clinic Eastern Region EMS Medical Director for Hillcrest Hospital and South Pointe in Warrensville Heights, was one of a few medical professionals given a Star of Life award for a year of excellence. After more than 30 years in medicine, though, helping others is natural and recognition is secondary.

"It's a nice award, but EMS is in my blood," he said. "I'm one of those people who is incredibly lucky to do what it is that I'm crazy about.

"I'd do it with or without awards."

In addition to his work for the Cleveland Clinic system, Spaner has also served in the U.S. Army for more than 34 years as a medical physician and is currently a colonel with the 256th Combat Support Hospital. The Case Western Reserve University graduate has been at Hillcrest since 1994.

During the months when he's at Hillcrest, Spaner's typical week consists of lectures and rides with squads. He monitors the charts of nearly 20 Northeast Ohio fire departments, and lets them know the outcomes of some patients.

"I do that so they can say, 'hey I'm doing the right thing' or 'Could I have done more,'" Spaner said. "I always wanted clear direction, someone who made us feel we're part of the team, not someone who said, 'just do it because you're told.' EMS — we all talk about protocol. We want cutting-edge protocol that gives people the best chance to help people.

"I work with really great people. How could you not be passionate about this?"

This week in National EMS Week. Learn more about it by clicking here.