Welcome to the good mix edition of the Customer Service Carnivale! This edition has a another good mix of interesting posts from various customer service related topics. No matter what area of customer service you work in, there's something to learn from each of these submissions...

Are you applying for a position in customer service? The Job Interview and Career Guide blog has posted a sample Customer Service resume that can help you out if you're unsure about what to include.

Case Ernsting shares his first experience as a digital marketing intern and how transparency in social media can be both a gift and curse.

How do you collect from customers who owe you money while maintaining a good relationship with them? Julie Rains offers some great tips in How to Make Collection Calls That Keep Customer Relationships.

We like to think that all companies are ethical and honest, but in these days of the internet, it's just not true.  If you feel that a company has scammed you in any way, here are some tips on how to file a consumer complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Cheryl's post, Customer Service Is For Lawyers, Too, reminds me of a recent experience with my personal injury lawyer.  I think I need to send him this post!


That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of customer service carnivale using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

In the United States we've been experiencing some major changes in the health care system. There has been a great deal of debate about how this new system is going to affect people.

Suffice it to say that all the back and forth debate boils down to money. However, it got me thinking about the effect this will have on how medical professionals treat their patients. I also happen to have a new client who is an insurance broker specializing in medical malpractice insurance, so I've been learning about the new healthcare laws and how they affect malpractice insurance rates.

Because of this new health care system, there's a possibility that the workload for medical professionals may increase. On top of that they have to deal with increases in malpractice premiums.  So I came up with some ideas on how medical professionals can create a better experience for their patients and avoid medical malpractice.

Here are my tips:

Communicate with your patient - Be open and honest with your patients. Let them know what exactly you will do to treat them. Be thorough when explaining any medical process they will need to undergo and make sure you have all the information you need from them. Help your patients make informed decisions by offering as much information as you can. Furthermore, part of communicating well with patients also includes promptly returning phone calls, preferably within 24 hours.

Keep good files and documentation - Make sure to maintain good records of patient visits and prescriptions.

Make patient care a priority - Although this may seem obvious, many doctors forget that their whole purpose is to make sure their patients are well taken care of. The hospital environment can be demanding and fast-paced, but don't be in a hurry to get patients in and out. Take your time with each patient and make sure to explain all the facts.

Be aware of current medical practices - Attend continuing education classes or become involved in professional organizations.

Are there any tips that you'd like to add?

Photo Credit: Seattle Municipal Archives

There are many types of service. Most of what I talk about on this blog is the service that businesses offer to their customers, but lately I've been thinking more about the selfless service that I talked about back in January when I paid homage to Martin Luther King Jr..

Have you ever done something just for the sake of helping someone? How about doing something for someone because you want to take a stand and help spread a message? That's also considered being of service, right?

Well, today I want to be of service by helping to spread the message about the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial. The month of April marks the 42nd anniversary of the death of Dr. King and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation is commemorating his life and work by creating a memorial in Washington DC.  So far the foundation has raised $106 million for the memorial, so they're only $14 million away from their goal.

Here's a video that shows what the memorial will look like...

You can find out more about the memorial, plus get videos and banners to help spread the word by visiting: http://mlkmemorialnews.org/

Welcome to the Short and Sweet edition of the Customer Service Carnivale! However, don't let the size fool ya'. This edition is filled with great customer service tips, stories, and inspiration!

I'm a big quote person, so I love this post that was contributed by Glenn Friesen:  Five Inspiring Customer Service Quotes.  My favorite is the one by Betsy Sanders.  What about you?

Never sacrifice a good presentation and quality just because it's easy to make...like sliced bananas.  Banquet Manager goes on another rant in Sliced Bananas...Are You Crazy? 

How do you create a customer-focused company?  Kathy C. says that having a customer service strategy is the first step.

As a Twitter-holic myself, I must agree with Ryan Taft's submission, Tweet Us with ANY Questions.

And speaking of Twitter...Find out if you can increase your sales and customer satisfaction using social media sites. Case Ernsting presents Social Media ROI: Fact or Fiction?

Building a good team of passionate people is one of the fundamentals for a successful company.  Deb Bixler offers some tips in Direct Sales Team Building. 

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of customer service carnivale using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.