Program Overview
The Administrative Office Technology (AOT) and Health Information Technology (HIT) programs, located in the W building, build strong business partnerships with area employers to promote student preparedness for the diverse and dynamic responsibilities of new economy office professionals. The partnerships include job shadowing, supervised employment, an advisory committee comprised of members from office-related fields, and individual periodic consultations and meetings focusing on curriculum relevancy to employment trends and student accountability and success.

The mission of the programs to educate students seeking to prepare for future employment through either completing certificates or degrees or by immediately updating skills, is verified by the success of its students and graduates. A sampling of positions held by recent Administrative Office Technology and Health Information Technology students and graduates includes marketing assistant, medical office manager, insurance biller, software trainer, program analyst, receptionist, instructional aide, administrative assistant or program assistant with governmental agency, accounting office receptionist, health unit coordinator, and secretary senior. Acquiring technical and interpersonal skills needed to function as an office professional may merit enrollment in Columbia Basin College's Administrative Office Technology or Health Information Technology courses.

Prospective students should attend the First Year Introduction seminar offered by AOT and HIT to discuss program entry, individual placement, sequence, scheduling, and program planning.  This progressive department offers:

• individualized advising
• distance learning
• course challenge opportunities
• short-term courses and certificates
• work-based learning
• Tech Prep articulation
• current software availability
• advanced placement in keyboarding and word processing
• vocationally and software certified faculty
• software certification preparation

All AOT and HIT students are afforded the opportunity to integrate classroom learning with a work-based learning experience through involvement in supervised employment at a work site in a program-specific discipline. Some disciplines require criminal history background checks that must be satisfactorily met.

The Associate in Applied Science degree and several Administrative Office Technology certificates are offered for students whose goals are immediate employment. Additionally, students may enroll in classes without working toward a certificate or degree. Lastly, the department offers an associate in applied science-transfer degree for transferring to selected state institutions. The AOT degrees and certificates are different from the associate degree in arts and science, which is described elsewhere in the catalog.

Graduate Competencies
Graduates of the program have been afforded opportunities to:

• Demonstrate an ability to use appropriate software
• Explore and self-assess career-development techniques
• Perform duties related to specialty content in a supervised employment capacity
• Assess and apply appropriate societal and work ethics in the global environment
• Develop critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities

Degree Programs

• Associate in Applied Science degrees
• Administrative Assistant
• Transfer

Certificate Programs
(require a minimum of 45 credits):

• Agricultural Business Office (offered in conjunction with CBC's Agriculture program)
• Bookkeeping Clerk
• Health Unit Coordinator
• Legal Office Clerk
• Medical Office Receptionist
• Medical Billing Clerk
• Receptionist

Proficiency and Short-term Certificates
(2-quarter programs):

• Health Unit Coordinator Proficiency
• Office Aide Proficiency
• Office Software Proficiency

All programs require students to:

• Complete ASSET test
• Earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in all required Administrative Office Technology courses
  

Administrative Office Technology Courses
Health Information Technology Courses
Medical Transcription Program Outcomes
Medical Secretary Program Outcomes
Medical Reimbursement & Coding Program Outcomes

Faculty

• Guadalupe Martinez
  Administrative Office Technology, Assistant Professor, Coordinator
  Location: W Building, W114
  Phone: 509-542-4648
  Email: lmartinez@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: B.A., Eastern Washington University, Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Business Education

Courses taught at CBC:
Introduction to Microcomputers, Office Orientation, Editing, Legal Aspects of the Medical Office, Intermediate Spreadsheet Applications, Presentation Applications, Word Processing, Word Processing I, General Office Procedures, Supervised Employment, Administrative Office Management, Legal Office Procedures, Medical Office Procedures, Software Teaching Methods, Professional Development

• Mary Bloomsburg
  Health Information Technology, Assistant Professor
  Location: W Building, W115
  Phone: 509-542-4643
  Email: mbloomsburg@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: A.A., Health Information Technology; B.S., Health Care Administration from Weber State University
  Certified through the American Health Information Management Association as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)

Courses taught at CBC:
Introduction to Coding, Coding I, Coding II, Medical Terminology, Medical Billing, Legal Aspects of the Medical Office, Administrative Medical Assistant

• Tamra Crider
  Administrative Office Technology, Assistant Professor
  Location: W Building
  Phone: 509-542-4646
  Email: tcrider@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: B.A. in Business Administration, Washington State University
  
  Courses taught at CBC:
  Introduction to Microcomputers, Keyboarding I and II, Keyboarding/Skillbuilding, Office Orientation, Intermediate Spreadsheet Applications, Database Applications, General Office Procedures, Word Processing I

AOT Staff

• Veronica Flores
  Teaching Aide II
  Location: W Building, W112
  Phone: 509-542-4645
  Email: vflores@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: A.A.S., Columbia Basin College, Administrative Assistant
  
  
• Jerry Thompson
  Information Technology Specialist
  Location: W Building, W111
  Phone: 509-542-4644
  Email: jthompson@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: A.A., Columbia Basin College, General Studies