Proposed $8B CA prison hospitals could help state economy

The first of seven proposed medical centers for chronically ill California state prisoners may be headed for Stockton. The proposed 1,800-bed facility would cost $631 million to build, and would create 5,500 construction-related jobs. According to a report released earlier this week by Clark Kelso, California's federally appointed prison health care receiver, the medical center could become one of the Stockton area's largest employers. If approved and funded, the proposed Stockton facility would be built at the site as a now vacant former youth prison.

Kelso's report claims that Stockton would add 2,800 new jobs with combined annual salaries totaling roughly $676 million. The report also states that the new prison health facility could create an additional 6,900 jobs. The plan has had decidedly mixed reception largely because of the cost, but also because some believe that nurses, physicians and technicians might quit their positions at lower paying community hospitals for the higher paying prison positions.

"The picture he [Kelso] paints is one that certainly could bring strength to the economy in San Joaquin County," said Scott Seamons, vice president of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California. "But they're going to fleece the county healthcare services in the process."

The seven proposed Department of Corrections medical facilities, starting with the Stockton medical center, could treat the chronic mental and physical conditions of 10,000 prisoners and cost an estimated $8 billion, according to Kelso's report.

For more information:
- here's the Recordnet.com story