Patty:

We also completed (survived?) a 5-day survey in early May (our first of that length--past surveys have only been 3-days) and I too was not consulted in any way.  However, we paid a consultant to come for a "mock-survey" practice last year and was asked to show wheelchair competencies on volunteers doing discharges.  Although, this may have come up simply because I was in the room.  If we had waited for him to ask, it may not have occurred to him to inquire.

My two cents.

We are about to do a workshop with our volunteers who serve in the Gift Shops.  If you have ever had any surveyor ask questions of your volunteers I would love to know what those questions were.  We are expecting a visit in just a few months.   

Thanks for any input. 

I've been with our hospital 29 years and we have never had an issue with TJC.  I have pulled one volunteer file which ended up just sitting up in their file room until they were done.  I have had an occasional question of a volunteer, "Have you signed a confidentiality"?  I do try to stay prepared:  items 18" from sprinklers, throw out expired HBA in the gift shop, update volunteers, etc.  I have always hoped that TJC would certainly spend their valuable time working on patient driven issues rather than picking through volunteer services.  We are currently having a mock survey and due for a survey anytime.  I am hearing that they are being super picky this year.