Coram

THOMASVILLE — Thomas County Emergency Medical Service’s new director is tasked with two major projects — duties he eagerly anticipates.

Tim Coram’s main responsibilities in the new position will be to enhance EMS collections and to facilitate expansion of advanced life support services to rural areas by placing ambulances in Ochlocknee, Boston and Coolidge.

“We’ll continue to improve services to others parts of the county,” Coram said.

The new director joined Thomas County EMS in December 1989 as an emergency medical technician. He was promoted to shift leader in October 1997, and to co-director in January 2008. Prior to working with Thomas County, Coram, a graduate of Central High School and Valdosta Tech, was employed at Decatur County Emergency Medical Services.

“(Tim) Coram is passionate and completely devoted to providing consistent quality patient care,” County Manager Mike Stephenson said. “Thomas County is moving in a new and exciting direction in emergency services, and Tim possesses all the skills necessary to help take us there.”

Prior to Coram’s appointment, department head responsibilities were shared with two other co-directors, Martin Smith and James Mann. Smith and Mann will remain shift supervisors at their current rank and status, Stephenson said. 

Coram said a billing business, Emergency Billing Company at Commerce, “will get (EMS) collections to where they need to be.”

The billing company will take over Oct. 1. EMS billing employees and Coram will undergo training by the company.

Emergency Billing, which will receive a percentage of collections, guarantees $500,000 in new revenue the first year. If the revenue is not realized, the company will receive no pay for its services.

Thomas County EMS is providing non-emergency transports, a new service.

“We’re picking up dismissals from the hospital and returning them to nursing homes,” Coram said. 

He said other non-emergency transports are to other medical facilities, to patients’ hometown hospitals and for higher levels of care.

County commissioners heard presentations from several companies when the board considered privatizing EMS several months ago. Commissioners opted not to privatize but to require cross-training of some employees, among other money-saving concepts.

Coram commended EMS employees.

“Without my employees, I am nothing,” he said. “I want them to know I appreciate them.”   

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820