The health care provider group patients know as Mission Cancer + Blood has a new owner, but that is the only thing changing at the local cancer center, according to UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge.

The Norma Schmoker Cancer Center will continue to be owned and operated by UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge.

“UnityPoint Health — Norma Schmoker Cancer Center is committed to delivering comprehensive, high quality and compassionate cancer care,” Leah Glasgo, president of UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge, said in a written statement.

“We are dedicated to providing local services and the best cancer care and treatment, as well as education and prevention, tailored to meet the needs of our community for years to come,” she added.

University of Iowa Health Care announced on Tuesday that it purchased Mission Cancer + Blood, effective Dec. 31. The assets of Mission Cancer + Blood were estimated at $280 million.

Mission Cancer + Blood provides an oncology outreach clinic in the Norma Schmoker Cancer Center at Trinity Regional Medical Center. Its providers see patients there once a week.

UnityPoint Health leaders said that arrangement will continue.

Dr. Steven Heddinger is currently providing the outreach clinic services. Dr. Sydney Brehany is scheduled to join the clinic shortly.

Mission Cancer + Blood is not the only entity that partners with UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge at the cancer center.

McFarland Clinic provides medical oncology and hematology with infusion services. It also provides radiation oncology services.

Its operations will remain the same in Fort Dodge. It will continue to provide care five days a week. McFarland Clinic has five physicians and one physicians assistant working in Fort Dodge.

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To clarify the story in Wednesday’s Messenger, University of Iowa Health Care has acquired Mission Cancer + Blood, but not Van Diest Medical Center, nor our Clinic. Van Diest Medical Center partners with Mission Cancer + Blood to offer an Oncology Clinic in our specialty clinic department. There will not be any changes to our oncology clinic, nor the care offered to patients by Mission Cancer, due to the collaboration between UIHC and Mission Cancer + Blood, according to Lori Foster, senior director of Marketing and Public Relations at VDMC.