Rite Aid announced that 24 RediClinics are now open inside select Rite Aid pharmacies in the greater Baltimore, Washington, DC and Philadelphia markets. The 24 new clinics mark the first in-store clinics that Rite Aid has opened since it acquired Houston-based RediClinic in April 2014. At the time, the company operated 30 clinics inside H-E-B grocery stores in Texas. The new clinics are in addition to those, and make the company’s current total over 50.

RediClinics are staffed by board certified nurse practitioners, who are trained and licensed to treat common conditions and provide preventive services, in collaboration with local physicians who are affiliated with leading local healthcare systems. Patients can be treated for most common medical conditions and clinicians are able to write prescriptions. RediClinics also provide a broad range of preventive services, including screenings, medical tests, immunizations, and basic physical exams.

Rite Aid Corporation is the nation’s third largest drugstore chain with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and fiscal 2014 annual sales of $25.5 billion. Rite Aid plans to open additional RediClinics inside select Rite Aid pharmacies across greater Seattle later this spring. The company will also look to open additional clinic locations in Texas where RediClinic is already a leading provider of convenient care services.

Clinics are meant to serve as an overflow outlet for hospitals and physician offices. The first clinics began opening in 2000. More growth has been seen over the past decade as a limited number of primary-care doctors struggle to treat an aging population. The Association of American Medical Colleges expects the United States to be short about 45,000 primary care physicians by 2020.

The 24 new clinics are a first for Rite Aid Corporation, but other top companies have already established their clinic businesses. While CVS has surged ahead in its clinic growth, Walgreens has maintained steady progress. CVS currently operates over 800 in store clinics, called Minute Clinic. Walgreens operates 400 of its Healthcare Clinics. The two top discount chains have been opening clinics as well. Target has 80 in-store clinics in 8 states. While Target’s clinics are run in-house, Walmart’s clinics are managed by over 60 independent health care providers across the country. The top discount chain currently has about 150 Walmart Care Clinics.