Enrolling an Inpatient Psychiatric Facility in NHSN: The 5 Steps

Step 1: Prepare

• Print and follow the enrollment checklist (PDF).
• Read the NHSN Facility Administrator Enrollment Guide (PDF).
• Complete the 57.103 Patient Safety Component – Annual Facility Survey, with its table of instructions.
• Finish the required training: NHSN Facility Enrollment Training (December 2021) and the Overview of the Patient Safety Component.
• Check that spam filters won't block NHSN's emails.

Time: about 2 hours, 45 minutes.

Step 2: Register the facility

Read and accept the NHSN Rules of Behavior, which leads to the online facility registration. The Facility Contact form can help gather the details beforehand.

You'll then get two emails: "Welcome to NHSN!" at once, and "Invitation to Register with SAMS" within 24 hours.

Time: about 10 minutes.

Step 3a: Register with the SAMS Partner Portal

The SAMS invitation email ("U.S. Centers for Disease Control: SAMS Partner Portal – Invitation to Register") carries a link, your user ID (your email address) and a temporary password. Follow the link, sign in, complete registration and accept the SAMS Rules of Behavior. You have 30 days from the invitation.

Time: about 16 minutes.

Step 3b: Prove your identity (if asked)

SAMS may then send an "Identity Verification Request." You can verify online through Experian, the newer, preferred route, or by submitting documents securely. Follow the instructions for your choice closely to avoid delays.

Time: about 35 minutes.

Step 4: Approval and activation

Once approved, an email from SAMS ("SAMS Activity Authorization") links to the portal and to the application — one email per application if you're approved for several — followed by a welcome email confirming your account.

NHSN requires strong authentication: a second factor alongside your password, either a soft token (the Entrust app on a phone, tablet or computer) or a hard token (a physical Entrust grid card mailed to your home). SAMS emails setup instructions after activation. A grid card should arrive within 2 weeks of approval; if not, write to samshelp@cdc.gov.

Time: about 32 minutes.

Step 5a: Enroll

With your token or grid card set up, log in to SAMS through SAMS Multi-factor Login and choose NHSN Enrollment to enroll electronically in the component you need. The facility administrator and primary contact then get an "NHSN Facility Enrollment Submitted" email.

Time: about 40 minutes.

Step 5b: Accept the agreement

The component's primary contact or the facility administrator logs in to SAMS, selects Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities, reviews the "Agreement to Participate and Consent," checks Accept beside the right contact and submits. A confirmation email follows. Accept within 60 days, or the facility will be withdrawn.

Time: about 5 minutes.

Done — then set up

Enrollment is complete. Take the IPF-specific NHSN training if you haven't, then go on to NHSN set-up, which is required before reporting.

Sources

Based on "5-Step Enrollment for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities," National Healthcare Safety Network, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain. Its decorative images are not reproduced.