The New York Times reports on a few of the areas that need improvement in health care organizations based on the HCAHPS data posted on the Hospital Compare website.

According to the Times' analysis the data revealed that almost a third of patients would not recommend the institution where they were treated. Referencing poor communication as a precursor to medical errors the publication reported that a fourth of the patients surveyed said nurses had not always communicated well with them.

Areas that needed improvement included patients not receiving adequate pain medication, patients not feeling like they were treated with courtesy and respect, and cleanliness items.

Underscoring the importance of hospital participation, health officials itemized the percentage penalty organizations will eventually face for opting out, to about $100 less per case.