Hospitals officials have reached a settlement with the union representing 10,000 nurses at California's largest non-profit hospital system which sets a national standard to guard against the spread of H1N1 flu and future pandemics.

A system-wide emergency task force of nurses and hospital representatives was agreed to be set up by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee and Catholic Healthcare West, to supervise the preparedness and set uniform standards that meet federal, state and local government guidelines.

The taskforce also has the responsibility to oversee the availability of protective equipment, communication and training policies- including other steps such as off-site emergency triage and treatment as per the requirement.

CHW spokeswoman Jill Dryer said that the provisional agreement covers around 12,000 nurses in California and Nevada, including 2,300 at five Mercy hospitals in the Sacramento region. A master contract for 28 CHW hospitals in California is included along with two other agreements for CHW facilities in Nevada.

If the new contracts are formally approved by membership then the wages will increase 20 percent over four years.

Union spokesman Chuck Idelson said, "The agreement sets a national standard for response not only to H1N1, but other communicable disease, it's unique and unparalleled. There is nothing like this in the U. S."

Dr Robert Wiebe, senior vice president and chief medical officer at CHW said that CHW and its hospitals have been following federal and state guidelines for the H1N1 epidemic.