Begin Enrollment Process

Enrolling in NHSN is a multiple step process, outlined below, that is completed by the person designated to serve as the Facility Administrator. The steps must be followed in the order listed to ensure a successful enrollment.

The person designated as the NHSN Facility Administrator is the only person who can enroll a facility in NHSN or reassign the role of Facility Administrator. This person will also have the ability to nominate groups, that is, entities with which your hospital wants to share some/all of its data (e.g., state or county health department, corporate headquarters).

For complete detailed enrollment instructions please download the NHSN Facility Administrator Enrollment Guide June 2009. PDF (1.16 MB / 30 pages).

Before attempting to enroll, as the Facility Administrator you must:

Review the following documents and fulfill training requirements:

• Purposes, Eligibility, Requirements and Confidentiality April 2006 PDF (46 KB / 2 pages)
• NHSN Facility Administrator Enrollment Guide June 2009. PDF (1.16 MB / 30 pages)
• NHSN Manual: Patient Safety Component Protocols

When you have completed the required trainings and read the above documents, you are ready to enroll. Follow the steps below to complete the enrollment process.

NOTE: Please make sure that your email system will not block emails from nhsn@cdc.gov and PHINTech@cdc.gov before beginning enrollment.

1. Read the NHSN Rules of Behavior.
   In order to participate in the NHSN, you must read and agree to abide by the following rules of behavior for safeguarding the system’s security.
2. Register your facility in the NHSN.
   After agreeing to the Rules of Behavior, you will be taken to the NHSN Registration page.
3. Obtain your Digital ID Certificate from the Secure Data Network (SDN)
   After you register your facility, NHSN will send you an email containing the website and password to apply for a digital certificate. Please do not apply for a digital certificate until you have received this email from NHSN.
4. Complete Enrollment Forms
   To complete the enrollment forms online, access SDN (https://sdn.cdc.gov) and select “NHSN Enrollment.” Then print and complete the following forms:
   • For an Outpatient Hemodialysis Center:
   • 57.101 Facility Contact Information PDF (68 KB / 2 pages)
   • 57.104 Patient Safety Component Outpatient Dialysis Practices Survey PDF (72 KB / 2 pages)
   • For all other facility types:
   • 57.101 Facility Contact Information PDF (68 KB / 2 pages)
   • 57.103 Patient Safety Component Annual Facility Survey PDF (72 KB / 2 pages)
     

   Note: After completing enrollment forms on paper, log in to SDN, select “NHSN Enrollment” and click “Enroll a Facility.” You must complete enrollment forms in one online session; you cannot save incomplete data.

5. Send Consent form to CDC
   NHSN will send you the Agreement to Participate and Consent form in an email. Once received, NHSN will activate your facility.
6. Begin using the NHSN Reporting application

Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.