I. IntroductionHuman resource management is defined as the process of managing human talent to achieve the objectives of an organization (Bohlander & Snell, 2010). A more detailed definition is given by the Society for Human Resource Management which states that "human resource management is the function within an organization that focuses on the recruitment, management and guidance of people who work in the “organization” (Schmidt, 2011). . The role that human resource management plays is the most vital in all business organizations. This importance is easily seen in running a healthcare facility. Human resources in healthcare are important for improving overall patient health outcomes and healthcare service delivery. The three main contributions to health systems are human resources, physical capital and consumables. In health care, human resources refers to the different types of clinical and non-clinical personnel responsible for supporting public and individual health (World Health Organization, 2000). Human resources are arguably the most important input to the health system.II. Background and historyThe HR department was born and developed in the same way as other areas of a company. Just as jobs continue to be created as we continue to evolve as a civilized race, so too was the human resources department born. “From what is now considered a set of defined tasks, human resources was born and cultivated in the same way as finance, purchasing and other organizational areas. Healthcare organizations, particularly hospitals, were once viewed as fundamentally low-pressure environments that provided an escape for individuals sometimes described as industrialists...... middle of article...... Management of health human resources. Mason, OH: Southwestern. Knouse, S.B. (2005). The future of human resources management: 64 leaders explore the critical HR issues of today and tomorrow. 58(4), 1089-1092. Martocchio, JJ (2005). Research in personnel and human resources management. Burlington, MA: Elsevier. Mathis, R.L. and Jackson, J.H. (2005). Human resources management (11th edition). Mason, OH: South-Western.Phillips, JJ & Phillips, PP Proving the Value of HR: How and Why Calculate ROI. Alexandria, VA: Society for Human Resource Management. Schmidt, C. (2011) From personnel administration to human resources management: managing demographic risks in hospitals. 60(6), 507-516. Townsend, K. and Bamber, G. (2011). All we need is one miracle: using a solutions-based approach to human resource management in hospitals. Human Resources Journal 49(2), 165-179.