More proof of the Valley's medical-worker shortage:

California's prison medical czar J. Clark Kelso outlined plans this week to build seven prison medical centers in the state -- but none is targeted for the Fresno area.

The reason? Kelso fears he would not be able to find enough health care workers in the region.

“We think it simply is at this point too difficult to recruit the necessary clinical expertise in the middle of the state,” he said on a conference call with reporters Monday.

Kelso was appointed by a federal court to bring prison medical and mental health care up to constitutional standards. His facilities plan would cost $7 billion. With Republicans opposed, the Senate recently rejected legislation to pay for the medical centers with bonds.

Kelso, who has significant power, has threatened to bypass the Legislature and take money directly from the general fund.

As The Stockton Record reported today, two of the medical facilities could be built in San Joaquin County -- in Tracy and Stockton. The one slated for Stockton would create 1,200 jobs, "bringing up to $85 million annually in salaries to doctors, nurses and correctional officers," the Record reported.

Kelso said he is also targeting Folsom, Chino, Whittier, San Diego, Ventura and Solano County.