Mercy Clinics Inc. has named Dr. Stephen Eckstat as its interim CEO. He fills the administrative role formerly held by Dr. David Swieskowski, who will serve as senior vice president and chief accountable care officer for Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines.

Both appointments were effective Jan. 1. Eckstat has served as medical director at Mercy West Family Medicine since 1983, and was a co-founder of Mercy Clinics. Swieskowski’s appointment to the new position of chief accountable care officer is the first of several administrative changes planned this year as Mercy redesigns its health-care delivery and payment systems to improve quality and lower costs, spokesman Gregg Lagan said.

Mercy officials said a permanent CEO will likely be chosen from within the organization and that an external search is not planned.