HOUSTON — Retail clinic operator RediClinic has rolled out online appointment scheduling from desktop computers, tablets and mobile devices.

The Rite Aid Corp. subsidiary said Thursday that unlike existing registration systems that put patients in a queue, RediClinic’s online scheduling system allows patients to make a same-day or next-day appointment for a specific time at a chosen location.

RediClinic noted that the ability to set an appointment online for a specific date, time and location provides added convenience for customers who prefer to plan in advance and not have to wait, even though the clinics provide care on a walk-in basis.

“We’re excited to be launching our new online appointment system in time for back-to-school season so children and their parents won’t need to wait for physicals and immunizations,” RediClinic chief executive officer Web Golinkin said in a statement. “With just a few clicks, customers can make same- or next-day appointments at a time that works for them, a feature that advances our commitment to providing maximum convenience in high-quality healthcare.”

The new online scheduling system also allows clinicians to spend more time focusing on care by relieving them of the need to capture certain basic information from patients, RediClinic added. Customers can go online to enter their demographic data and answer a brief set of questions to determine the reason for their visit and set an appointment time. They then complete the registration process using a tablet when they arrive at the clinic.

“Patient response to our new online appointment system has been overwhelmingly positive since it was introduced in select locations in June,” stated Danielle Barrera, chief operating officer of RediClinic. “Expanding this service to all RediClinic locations is the next logical step in ensuring that RediClinic continues to deliver the superior service that has long been its hallmark.”

Overall, RediClinic operates 89 retail health clinics, including 53 clinics inside Rite Aid stores in the greater Philadelphia, Baltimore/Washington, D.C., and Seattle areas and 36 clinics inside H-E-B supermarkets in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Texas.