MUSCATINE, Iowa —Jim Hayes of Greenville, Ill., has been named chief executive officer of Unity HealthCare in Muscatine.

Hayes, the president of Greenville Regional Hospital, has more than 20 years of experience in executive and management positions and more than 35 years of experience in health care. He will start at Unity on Monday, June 15.

“The opportunity to be a part of the future success of Unity hospital in conjunction with Trinity was very attractive,” Hayes, 58, said this morning.

Last year, Unity HealthCare signed an agreement with Iowa Health System, which provides management support through its Rock Island, Ill.-based Trinity Regional Heath System.

Hayes said he is looking forward to helping shape the direction of the hospital and focusing on the needs of the community.

He has a master’s degree in business administration from University of Indianapolis and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

“Jim Hayes is an experienced health care chief executive officer with a record of improving service and fostering the growth of services, as well as facilitating financial improvement in rural hospitals,” said John Beckey, chairman of the Unity HealthCare Board of Directors.

Beckey said Hayes has succeeded in marketing, staff and community relations, foundation development and patient satisfaction. His record matched with the criteria established by Unity’s CEO search committee, Beckey said.

Greenville Regional Hospital has twice won the coveted Top 100 award given by Thompson Reuters. Greenville is in Bond County, Ill., and has a population of about 7,000.

Hayes and his wife, Jane, are searching for a home in Muscatine.

Hayes said he believes that Unity has a well-qualified staff and he is hoping to build on the positives that the hospital brings to the community as well as nurturing the integration between Trinity and Unity.

“The first few weeks I would like to spend assessing what some of the existing strengths are,” Hayes said.