In 2005, the New York state legislature passed Public Health Law 2819, which required all hospitals to report certain hospital-acquired infections. Hospital-acquired infections are a serious concern in the healthcare field because in many cases hospital-acquired infections are preventable. Hospital-acquired infections can result in serious health and financial complications, including prolonged hospital stays, additional surgeries, and even death.  Fortunately, reports from the New York Department of Health show that hospital-acquired infections are on the decline, but they remain a problem in hospitals in Hudson Valley and throughout the region.