My wife is a 69-year-old woman. On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, she visited the Hazel Dell Parkway…read moreoffice of Riverview Health Urgent Care in Carmel, Indiana with a complaint of chest pain. At the time she was recovering from bronchitis. She has had bronchitis before and knew what the associated pain from coughing feels like; this pain was different and she mentioned that during her visit. The attending physician, James Beeson, M.D., ordered a chest x-ray and subsequently ruled out pneumonia. He then sent her home. At NO time did he listen to her heart, ask about her cardiovascular health or history, perform an EKG, test for cardiac enzyme levels, or seem to consider her heart as a possible cause of the pain. Further, he spent less than five minutes with her and seemed distracted or preoccupied. Finally, at discharge she received no paperwork.
At 2:30 a.m. the following day (Wednesday, March 18th) she awoke with severe chest pain and sweating. She could have ignored this since the doctor indicated that it's just bronchitis, but did not. I drove her to the Emergency Department at Riverview Health in Noblesville, Indiana where testing determined that she was having a heart attack. Cardiac catheterization that day revealed that that her left coronary artery was 95% occluded, the scenario known as the "widow maker." Their Interventional Cardiologist was able to use a balloon catheter to open that artery somewhat but was unable to place any stents. This necessitated a second procedure where the calcification was reamed out, after which he placed three stents.
As we subsequently reviewed this whole chain of events it seems patently obvious to us that Dr. Beeson completely missed the obvious (her heart) when considering her complaint of chest pain (which we now know was angina). Further, had he considered and acted upon that possibility by immediately sending her to the Emergency Department for further evaluation, then the occlusion would have been discovered and addressed that day, and she would not have suffered the heart attack the following day; it could have been medically avoided.
Dr. Beeson clearly misdiagnosed her chest pain, and the result was an avoidable heart attack and the mental stress and anguish associated with it.
When we brought this matter, via e-mail, to the attention of Julie Nix, Riverview's President and CEO; Rick Henvey, the CEO of Riverview's parent, Parkview Hospital; and Maddie Larson, Riverview Health's Director of Quality, Ms. Larson responded via e-mail saying, in part, "We understand how distressing this whole experience has been for you and sincerely apologize for that. Upon receiving your email, we once again reviewed the care you received with the appropriate clinical leadership. While we are unable to discuss personnel matters or confidential aspects of our quality review process, please know that the review of this case was thorough and rest assured that appropriate follow-up and education has occurred." Later she stated, "At this time, we will consider this matter closed."
I find that the actions purported to have been taken, and Riverview Health's overall response, to be totally insufficient. My wife suffered an avoidable heart attack and Riverview and Dr. Beeson get off scot-free?!?!?! That is simply unacceptable. It seems to us that they are attempting to sweep this matter under the rug. Ms. Larson's comment that, ""...appropriate follow-up and education has occurred..." tells me that the individuals responsible are, in all probability, still employed and free to make this same mistake, or worse, again!
My recommendation is that you seek your healthcare elsewhere!