NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Little Clinic has earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for the third straight time.

A Kroger Co. subsidiary, the retail health clinic operator said Monday that it initially earned accreditation in 2009, followed by reaccreditation in 2012 and 2015. The reaccreditation process occurs every three years.

In its certification process, Joint Commission surveyors visited The Little Clinic corporate office and conducted unannounced site visits to many clinic locations.

The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in the health care sector, certifying and accrediting more than 20,500 other organizations, including hospitals and health care provbiders that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home care, laboratory and nursing home services, according to The Little Clinic.

“As an organization, we make a daily commitment to serve our patients with the highest standards of quality and safe care. Like Kroger, our parent company, we focus on putting the customer first in everything we do by delivering stellar service and care with every patient encounter,” Mike Stoll, chief executive officer of The Little Clinic, said in a statement. “Reaccreditation by The Joint Commission further supports our dedication to consistent, on-going operational improvement.”

The Little Clinic is the nation’s third-largest retail clinic operator, with 155 clinics in Kroger stores in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, Indiana and Ohio; King Soopers stores in Colorado; Fry’s Food Stores in Arizona; and JayC stores in Indiana.

The walk-in medical clinics are staffed by licensed nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who are authorized to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common illnesses such as strep throat, respiratory, sinus and ear infections and the flu, as well as treat minor skin conditions and injuries. The clinics also provide services such as physical exams, back-to-school and sports exams, health screenings and a range of vaccinations.

“Amidst all the changes to the health care industry in recent years, The Little Clinic is providing much-needed, quality and customer-driven care in a convenient and affordable manner,” stated Kroger chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen. “The complement of The Little Clinic alongside our pharmacy teams, dieticians and wellness focus truly allows Kroger to serve as a health care destination within the communities we serve.”