CINCINNATI, Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Little Clinic, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. KR and a key cornerstone of Kroger Health's nationwide health care assets, today announced it has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval^® for Retail Health Care. Having demonstrated continuous compliance with the Commission's nationally recognized standards, The Little Clinic has now been awarded this accreditation for the fourth consecutive time. The Gold Seal of Approval^® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.

"At Kroger Health, our vision is to help people live healthier lives Wellness Your Way , and The Little Clinic is a big part of that effort," said Chance Cole, Vice President, Kroger Health. "We're focused on providing solutions that simplify the health care experience while also elevating the standard of care for people across the country. The reaccreditation by The Joint Commission further supports that work, and is a testament to the quality of care and operations provided by our clinics and our health care professionals."

The Little Clinic, which serves nearly two million patients each year, initially earned accreditation in 2009, followed by reaccreditation in 2012, 2015, and again this year. The clinics operate in over 200 select Kroger, Fry's, JayC, Dillons and King Soopers stores stretching from Virginia to Colorado. With over 500 board certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants, The Little Clinic provides expert care within the convenience of the grocery store setting. The onsite health care professionals 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 for minor skin conditions and injuries. The clinics also provide services such as physicals, back-to-school and sports exams, screenings and a number of vaccinations. Appointments are not necessary and the company is in network with most major insurers and many regional insurers.

During The Joint Commission's review process, a team of surveyors with expertise in general and retail health care evaluated compliance with standards related to a variety of areas, including coordination of care, monitoring for procedures that involve use of sedation or anesthesia, infection prevention and control, management of medications, and patient education and training. The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in the health care industry, certifying and accrediting more than 20,500 other organizations, including hospitals and health care organizations that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home care, laboratory and nursing home services.

"The Little Clinic takes great pride in receiving accreditation from The Joint Commission, the most trusted health care quality improvement and accreditation body in the nation," said Marc R. Watkins, MD, Chief Medical Officer, The Little Clinic. "We hold our team to the highest standards, and this recognition demonstrates that we are collectively continuing to keep that bar high. I'm excited about what we've built, but even more excited about where we're headed. We're committed to changing the way health care is delivered in this country and this another important milestone on that journey."

The Joint Commission's health care standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

About The Joint Commission 
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including hospitals and health care organizations that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home care, laboratory and nursing home services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

About The Little Clinic
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., The Little Clinic is a pioneer in customer-focused healthcare with a mission to provide quality, convenient, affordable healthcare and wellness education. A wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co., The Little Clinic health care clinics are currently located inside select Kroger stores in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, Indiana and Ohio; King Soopers in Colorado; Fry's Food Stores in Arizona; and JayC stores in Indiana. The Little Clinic was awarded The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval™ in 2009 and obtained reaccreditation in 2012, 2015 and 2018. Visit The Little Clinic online at www.thelittleclinic.com.

About The Kroger Co.
At The Kroger Co. KR, we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are nearly half a million associates who serve over nine million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and 2,800 retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

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SOURCE The Kroger Co.