Which relationship begins with the credentialing process?

The relationship that begins with the credentialing process is the hospital-physician relationship. Credentialing is a systematic approach to validating an individual's qualifications, including education, training, and professional experience, to ensure that they are competent and eligible to provide healthcare services within a particular institution.

In the context of a hospital, credentialing is crucial because it determines whether a physician can admit patients and provide care at that hospital. This first step establishes the groundwork for the hospital-physician relationship, allowing the physician to practice within the hospital's facilities and under its auspices.

While the other relationships may involve some form of credentialing or verification, such as insurance networks assessing provider qualifications or employers verifying credentials for employment, the specific credentialing process is most directly tied to the hospital's need to ensure that its physicians meet necessary standards before allowing them to practice on site.