Though reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HACs) is a major focus for hospital leaders around the country, in seven New York hospitals it's nurses who are taking the lead in cutting down on HACs and reducing costs, according to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). After implementing a 16-month, hospital-based nurse leadership training program known as the AACN Clinical Scene Investigator Academy, some of the participating hospitals were able to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections, reduce central-line associated bloodstream infections and decrease the average length of stay in the intensive care unit, among other HAC-related achievements, according to the statement. The improvement in quality of care has led to an anticipated cost savings of nearly $4.5 million for the hospitals, AACN stated. Statement