Businesses were challenged to buy into the broader principles of the 10-year Health Accord plan yesterday.

The call came from accord co-author Dr. Pat Parfrey during an event hosted by the St. John’s Board of Trade at the Delta Hotel in St. John’s.

Parfrey told the local movers and shakers that recruiting and retaining staff today goes beyond just financial compensation.

“The idea that all you have to worry about is paying them, is probably antiquated,” he said. “Paying them is really important because it’s all about economic well-being. But it’s broader than that. It’s about mental well-being, social well-being, environmental well-being. And if we’ve got the employers actively engaged in that broader mandate, we’ll be a more successful province.”

Meanwhile, Health Minister Tom Osborne noted that about one in every four health appointments goes missed, adding up to lost time and resources. He touted creation of a new text or email reminder system that he says should put a dent in that number.

“I anticipate over the next two years we’ll see all services through the provincial health authority connected to the appointment reminder system, which will significantly reduce the number of missed appointments.”

Osborne and Parfrey were taking part in the Board of Trade’s event “Monitoring Our Progress”—a conversation on the nearly dozen initiatives implemented since the release of the NL Health Accord last year.