Last April, Governor Pawlenty created the Veterans Long Term Care Advisory Commission to provide recommendations on the best approach for the future operation, management, administration and governance of the Veterans Homes.  The Commission was made up of highly qualified individuals with experience in long term care and veterans.  After eight months of remarkable effort, today the Commission has completed its work and provided their recommendations to the Governor. 

Using his executive powers, the Governor has acted swiftly and in accordance with the Commission recommendations to restructure the governance of the Minnesota Veterans Home.  In summary, the changes include the following:

• After a thirty-day transition period, the Governing Board of the Minnesota Veterans Homes will be dissolved and the Homes will become a part of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
• The chain of command for each home will essentially remain as is.

For additional information:

• Commission Report
• Govenor's Executive Order - November 19, 2007
• Creation of Advisory Board - November 21, 2007
• Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
  

It has been announced that Mr. Gilbert Acevedo has accepted the position of Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Commissioner - Health Services..

Mr. Acevedo will be moving from Poway, California where he has been serving as the administrator of the California Veterans Home - Chula Vista - a 400 bed Continuum Care Retirement Community which provides three levels of care (independent, assisted and skilled nursing) and an ambulatory care clinic.  Acevedo has been employed by the Veterans Home - California for five and a half years also serving as the Assistant Deputy Secretary, California Department of Veterans Affairs; Assistant Administrator; Chief, Medical Administrative Services; and Residential Care for the Elderly Administrator, California Department of Veterans Affairs.

Currently, Mr. Acevedo is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives, American College of Health Care Administrators, California Association of Health Care Facilities, San Diego Organization of Healthcare Leaders, American Legion, American Veterans, Military Order of the Cootie, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League and United States Submarine Veterans.

Prior to joining the California Veterans Home - Chula Vista, Acevedo served in the U.S. Navy from 1978 to 2001, retiring with the rank of Command Master Chief.  As Command Master Chief, he held the title of executive manager and operated a medium sized hospital and 14 ambulatory clinics throughout the state of California.  He traveled to the locations to meet with staff and troubleshoot operational issues.