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5-Step Enrollment for Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Note: The following instructions are for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) that must enroll in NHSN for the purpose of fulfilling CMS’s Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program requirements. Participating CMS-licensed ASCs will be required to report healthcare personnel vaccination summary data via NHSN beginning with the 2014-2015 influenza season. Detailed operational guidance, training, and other information for this reporting are available at NHSN ASC Surveillance for Healthcare Personnel Vaccination .
If your facility is already enrolled in NHSN, e.g. because your state requires your facility to report surgical site infections, it does not have to be re-enrolled. Your NHSN Facility Administrator may simply activate the Healthcare Personnel Safety Component in NHSN.
Step 1: Enrollment Preparation
Print and follow detailed checklist [PDF – 200 KB] to ensure successful and efficient enrollment.
Complete the appropriate training based upon what will be reported:
Outpatient Procedure Component for ASCs [PDF – 5 MB]
Healthcare Personnel Safety Component training for ASCs [PDF – 3 MB]
Be sure to check trusted websites and spam blockers.
Time to complete step 1: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Step 2: Register Facility with NHSN
Read and agree to the NHSN Rules of Behavior. You will then be redirected to electronically register your facility with NHSN.
Note: The NHSN Facility Contact form [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).
Step 3a: Register with SAMS Partner Portal
You will receive an email from the “U.S. Centers for Disease Control: SAMS Partner Portal – Invitation to Register.” It will include a web link to the SAMS registration page along with your assigned SAMS Partner Portal User ID (email address) and a temporary password. Please click on the link and enter the SAMS Partner Portal User ID and temporary password when prompted. Then follow the onscreen instructions to register and accept the SAMS Rules of Behavior.
Note: After being invited to SAMS, you have 30 days to complete the registration process.
Time to complete step 3a: 16 minutes
Step 3b: Identity Proofing Verification (if applicable)
After successful online registration, you will receive an “Identity Verification Request” email from SAMS with instructions and a request to provide proof of your identity. SAMS supports two options for validating your identity using the New online preferred method Experian or the current secured document submission process.
*Please follow the instructions carefully for your selected identity verification option, to ensure timely processing.
Time to complete step 3b: 35 minutes
Step 4: Access Approval and Account Activation
Once your information is received and approved, you will receive your approval by email from sams-no-reply@cdc.gov. The subject will be “U.S. Centers for Disease Control: SAMS Partner Portal – SAMS Activity Authorization.” This email will contain web links to the SAMS Partner Portal and to the application. If you are approved for two or more applications, you will receive a separate email for each one. You will also receive a welcome email confirming the activation of your SAMS Partner Portal account.
You are now ready to access your applications and the SAMS Partner Portal.
The NHSN application requires users to be strongly authenticated. This means users must have an additional ‘token’, along with their password, to log in. The first option is a soft token that requires the installation of an Entrust Authenticator application on your phone, tablet, or computer. The second option is a hard token which is a physical Entrust grid card mailed to your home address. SAMS will communicate this authentication requirement to you in email along with instructions on how to complete the setup after account activation.
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 4: 32 minutes
Step 5a: Complete NHSN Enrollment
After setting up your credential device (via token or receiving your SAMS grid card), login to SAMS. Under the SAMS Multi-factor Login picture, click Login. On the SAMS home page, select ‘NHSN Enrollment’ to complete electronic enrollment for the desired component.
Time to complete step 5a: 5 minutes
Shortly after successfully submitting the forms, the Facility Administrator
and Primary Contact will receive a “NHSN Facility Enrollment Submitted” email.
Step 5b: Accept “NHSN Agreement to Participate and Consent”
Either the component primary contact or NHSN facility administrator must login to SAMS, select Ambulatory Surgery Center, 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 5b: 5 minutes
Congratulations, enrollment is complete!
Complete NHSN ASC specific training if not previously done.
