In the Right Hands: Teton Valley Resident Describes “5-Star Stay” in SJH’s New Transitional Care Unit

Emily Selleck of Teton Valley never imagined that a routine day of chopping wood would lead to an 11-day hospital stay. But when a deeply embedded splinter in her right hand became infected, she quickly realized she needed expert care.

After several unsuccessful attempts to remove the splinter herself, Emily turned to St. John’s Health’s (SJH) Emergency Department (ED). “From the moment I arrived, I was constantly reassured by the professionalism and warmth of the admissions and ED staff,” she recalled. It was there she met Dr. Heidi Jost, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hands and wrists, who explained that surgery would be necessary to remove the splinter. Initially nervous about the impact this would have on her hand, Emily quickly found comfort in the reassurance provided by Dr. Jost, hospitalist and SJH Chief of Staff Dr. Marcia Lux, and the rest of her pre-op care team.

Following surgery and a brief stay in SJH’s Primary Care Unit, Emily transitioned to its newly opened Transitional Care Unit (TCU), becoming its very first patient. There, she received a 10-day course of IV antibiotics to fight the infection, a critical step in her recovery before returning home. She joked that, at times, her stay in the TCU felt more like a “five-star getaway” than a hospital visit, with every detail of her care managed meticulously. Beyond the medical care she received, Emily credited her TCU care team for providing the emotional support that reinforced her belief that “as confidence increases, anxiety decreases, and healing improves.”

As a former nurse at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, a Physician Associate at Yale, Emily understands hospital operations at the highest level. Emphasizing how impressed she was by the care she received at SJH, she drew parallels to the same high standards she saw in the much larger institutions where she once worked. Her experience at SJH also rekindled a certain sense of nostalgia in her—particularly when she would walk the halls and connect with her kind and compassionate care team.

Today, much of Emily’s daily life in the Big Holes depends on the strength and precision of her hands. Now a retired horticulture educator deeply connected to her community and surroundings, she stays active managing her forest property—splitting wood, shoveling snow, and working on wildfire mitigation throughout the summer and fall.

Reflecting on her experience, Emily sees her recovery as more than just healing—it was a testament to the power of skilled, patient-centered care. She left SJH confident she could return to her active lifestyle without limitations, because as she put it, “At every step in this journey, I was in the right hands.”

About the Transitional Care Unit (TCU):

The TCU at SJH provides specialized care for patients needing an extended hospital stay before returning home. Located alongside SJH’s Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Facility, it offers access to a state-of-the-art rehab gym and a dedicated recovery team. With expert medical support and a personalized care plan, the TCU helps patients regain strength, confidence, and independence as they transition home.