New Providers: How to Set Up Your Password and MFA

Follow these instructions to set up your password and multifactor authentication (MFA). Houston Methodist uses MFA as an extra layer of security to keep our patient and hospital data safe. You’ll use it in the future to change your password.

Step 1: Sign in to Office 365.

• Go to office.com and click Sign in.

• In the account section, enter your assigned HM email address. If you weren’t assigned an HM email address, you can enter your HM user ID as an email address (e.g., TMHXX@houstonmethodist.org). Important Note: If you’ve been assigned an HM email address, you must use it to access Office 365. The HM user ID format won’t work if you have an existing HM email address.

• Click Forgot my password.

Step 2: Create your password.

• A verification code will be sent to the mobile number you have on file. Important: The mobile number you provided validates your identity. It’s vital that you always have that device with you and your number is accurate in our systems.

• Follow the prompts.

  • Your password must contain a minimum of 15 characters and three of the following:

    • Uppercase letter (A through Z).

    • Lowercase letter (a through z).

    • Number (0 through 9).

    • Special character (~!#$%^&*_-+=`|\(){}[]:;”‘<>,?/).

  • Your password can’t include:

    • Your name.

    • Your HM username/ID.

    • The Houston Methodist name.

    • Common words like Astros, Houston, Methodist, Texans, etc.

    • Any of your previous five passwords.

    • For an even stronger password that’s easy to remember, use a passphrase. Passphrases are a group of random words, e.g., CoffeeFoxAruba1# or @AppleBoxTree77459. Studies show that passphrases help prevent cyberattacks.

Step 3: Set up Multifactor Authentication.

• After following the prompts to change your password, click Next.

• Follow the steps to download and install the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile phone.

• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the MFA set up.

• For detailed instructions on installing the Microsoft Authenticator app, click here.

Step 4: Register your smartphone. To ensure access to many of HM’s applications, you must also register your phone in SecureAuth.

• Visit enroll.houstonmethodist.org/SecureAuth3/ and login with your HM username and new network password. Follow the prompts and complete all fields.