5-Step Enrollment for Long-term Care Facilities
The below steps serve as a guide for Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs) enrolling in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
Once a facility is registered with NHSN, the Secure Access Management Services (SAMS) grid card must be used to continue with the NHSN enrollment process for the facility. If the designated facility NHSN user has not previously registered with SAMS and received a grid card, the user must complete the identity verification process with SAMS prior to gaining access to continue with the NHSN enrollment process for the facility.
A facility should only enroll once into the LTCF Component. Once a facility is enrolled, additional options become available, such as adding additional users and enrolling in additional Components.
1. Complete required LTCF Enrollment Training Guide pdf icon[PDF – 6MB]
Note: The Enrollment training slides serve as a detailed guide through the enrollment process.
2. Check trusted websites and spam blocker settings.
- In Internet Explorer, add cdc.gov and verisign.com to your list of trusted websites and permit pop-ups for these sites.
- Check spam-blocker settings to allow emails from NHSN@cdc.gov, SAMS-NO-REPLY@cdc.gov
Time to complete Step 1: 40 minutes
Note: The NHSN Facility Contact form pdf icon[PDF – 80 KB] may be used to manually collect required registration information prior to electronically entering the data into NHSN.
Time to complete step 2: 10 minutes
After registration, you will receive two emails: ‘Welcome to NHSN!’
(immediately from NHSN) and ‘Invitation to Register with SAMS’
(from SAMS-no-reply within 24 hours).
From the ‘Invitation to Register with SAMS’ email, login to SAMS with your username (i.e., email address) and temporary password provided. Accept the SAMS Rules of Behavior and complete the online SAMS registration form.
Note: Users are encouraged to use the NHSN LTCF Enrollment Guide pdf icon[PDF – 6 MB] to complete this step. The SAMS username and temporary password will expire in 30 days.
Time to complete step 3a: 15 minutes
Within 24 hours of successful online registration,
receive SAMS ‘Identity Verification Request’ email.
From the ‘Identity Verification Request’ email, print the Identity Verification Form, complete it, and take it to a notary public for endorsement. Using the SAMS contact information in the e-mail, digitally upload, fax, or mail the completed form and supporting documentation.
Once your information is received and approved, you will receive ‘SAMS Account Activation’ and ‘SAMS Activity Authorization’ emails, followed by receipt of your SAMS grid card, which will be delivered to your home address via U.S. mail. The approval process can take up to three weeks.
Note: Your SAMS grid card should be delivered to your home address via U.S. mail within 2 weeks after you receive your SAMS approval email. If you do not receive your SAMS grid card within two weeks, contact samshelp@cdc.gov for assistance.
Time to complete step 3b: 35 minutes
After Grid Card Received
After receiving your SAMS grid card, login to SAMS. Under the SAMS Grid Card picture, enter your username and password, and then click Login. On the SAMS home page, select ‘NHSN Enrollment’ to complete electronic enrollment into the Long Term Care Facility Component.
Note: Facility registration information may be manually collected using the NHSN Facility Contact pdf icon[PDF – 80 KB] and Annual Facility Survey pdf icon[PDF – 80 KB] forms prior to electronically entering the data into NHSN.
Time to complete step 4: 40 minutes
Shortly after successfully submitting the forms, the Facility Administrator
and Primary Contact will receive a “NHSN Facility Enrollment Submitted” email.
Either the component primary contact or NHSN facility administrator must login to SAMS, select Long-term Care Facility Component and review the “Agreement to Participate and Consent”. Check the box to ‘Accept’ next to the appropriate contact name and then ‘Submit’. An email will be issued confirming this action.
Note: The consent form must be accepted within 60 days or the facility will be withdrawn.
Time to complete step 5: 5 minutes
Congratulations, enrollment is complete!
Complete NHSN Long-term Care Facility specific training if not previously completed.
