Taking prescribed medication is essential for chronically ill or elderly patients. Not adhering to prescribed medication intake can and probably will result in major health complications, which could have been easily avoided. Thankfully, modern medicine has recognized this issue and has taken the necessary steps to manage it and mitigate its consequences. That is why nowadays we have devices like automatic pill dispensers.
Automatic pill dispensers are devices that release daily pills doses at a pre-programmed time, following the pill intake schedule and providing necessary alerts. These devices are seen as essential in cases of prescribed medication and adhering to the intake schedule.
But, truth to be told, there are numerous pill dispensers on the market, and it can be hard to choose the best one. Therefore, in the following paragraphs, we’ll take a look at the HERO automatic pill dispenser. This device has proven to be one of the best in the industry, as thousands of senior patients and caregivers have deemed it incredibly helpful, safe, and reliable. So, without further ado, let’s get started with the review!
HERO Automatic Pill Dispenser: Quick Review
The HERO pill dispenser is a device that will help you adhere to your medication regimen prescribed by your doctor and healthcare provider. The device is designed to organize your medication, release the doses daily according to the set time and schedule, and remind you and your caregiver in case you miss a dose.
The pills are organized into compartments, and when they start running low, you, your caregiver, or family member will be notified about the refilling. Overall, the device manages the challenge of organizing daily pill doses and ensures that the user or patient doesn’t skip a dose.
How Did HERO Come To Be?
The story behind the creation of this device is very important to understand how essential it is to have a pill dispenser in the household. The founder of HERO, Kal Vepuri, has experienced the struggles of medication management when his mother got ‘core-red’ sick, as he describes it.
His mother is a primary care physician, and despite her background in medicine, she still couldn’t handle or manage the intake of 15 or 16 pills every day. But, Kal quickly learned that proper organization and management is the key to adherence to the medication. That is when he founded the HERO company and created this incredible device.
Kal says that HERO has helped his mother regain her independence, and she could completely rely on the dispenser to take care of the pill intake. In that sense, here’s what Kal says HERO is supposed to help patients with;
HERO is not supposed to replace one’s caregiver, but rather contribute to better handling of the whole situation, especially when it comes to regular pill intake.
HERO is designed to provide secure, automatic dispensing of the prescribed medication. This is done using dynamic reminders, text and email notifications, and refill services.
The dispenser will also log data about doses that were taken/given or the doses that were missed. In case of missed doses, the caregiver or family will be notified right away.
The device is designed to establish and improve the communication between the patient, caregiver, the healthcare provider, and the pharmacist. This communication will ensure that the patient receives the medication properly and that they always receive the medication supply before it runs out.
HERO Pill Dispenser Advantages
- Flexible pill dispensing
- Holds medication for up to 90 days
- The shape or the size of the pill is not an issue
- Sends audio and visual notifications, alerts, and reminders
- Safety options in cases of late or missed doses
- Safety options for device access – passcode access
- Automatic medication ordering
- Remote schedule and dose control
- Features a designated pill cup
- Provides monthly payment options
- User-oriented and straightforward interface
- Everyday Hero membership for medication delivery
- The HERO App suitable for Android and iOS
- Free shipping
HERO Pill Dispenser Disadvantages
- Doesn’t feature a backup battery
- Doesn’t manage halved or quartered pills, gummies, and liquid medication
- The setup of the device can be complex for non-tech-savvy users
- Comes with an Initiation Fee of $99.99
- Has a coffee maker/medical device appearance
- Not completely suitable for physical and cognitive impairment use
The HERO Dispenser Features
The HERO pill dispenser is packed with incredibly useful features, that regular pill dispensers don’t even come close to. Let’s take a look at the best features, their purpose, and how they work;
Alerts, Notifications, And Reminders
When you receive the HERO dispenser and you fill the compartments with medication, you need to schedule the time when the pills need to be taken. Based on this programmed time or schedule, the device sends out alerts, notifications, and reminders that it is time to take the medication. This may seem excessive or redundant to some people but bear in mind that the dispenser is designed for all types of patients, and partially adjusted for visual or hearing impairments.
Alerts And Reminders For Missed Doses
The HERO dispenser is not only designed to remind and notify you when to take the pill, but also makes sure you, your caregiver, or family know that you took a dose late, or missed one overall. This is incredibly useful, because in cases of serious illness, late or missed doses can lead to health complications that can be fatal.
Flexible Pill Dispensing
The HERO pill dispenser can manage the dispensing of 10 different medications and doses daily. Moreover, the device can store medication for up to 90 days, before it sends out notifications about the necessary refilling or additional medication supply. Not to mention that it manages to handle all kinds and shapes of medication unless they’re gummies or halved pills.
Continual Medication Supply
The device ensures a continual medication supply through the HERO Fill membership service. The dispenser features sophisticated technology where it detects you’re running low on certain pills, notifies you, and handles the medication order, without you having to even lift a finger. At no additional cost, the user receives the medication prescription via email, and the medication arrives at one’s door, for free. So, with HERO, you’ll never run out of medication, which can surely provide you peace of mind.
The Dispenser Pill Cup
There are many dispensers which only release the pills into one’s hand. However, HERO comes with its dispenser pill cup. So, for example, if your caregiver is to give you the released pills, they won’t need to carry them in their hands, but rather just bring you the dispenser cup. This way the process is more hygienic and safe.
Passcode Access
Many pill dispenser users often express their concerns about anyone being able to take medication from the dispenser, without a safety check. Well, that is not the case with HERO. To access the dispensed pills, one needs to enter a protected passcode. This way, your pills and dosage schedule will be protected from others.
HERO User Interface And User Experience
Some of the most important factors when it comes to reviewing a pill dispenser are the user interface and the user experience. These factors determine whether the device is suitable for easy use, whether it is intuitive, and finally, whether it is good and worthy of your money.
Control options
The control options on the HERO dispenser are pretty straightforward. The main or central button is used to select or confirm the options on the screen. The arrows around the central button are used to move around the screen, between options. This interface has proven to be very effective and intuitive for many users who are not tech-savvy.
Medication Schedule App
This device allows you to use the HERO App to enter the information regarding the medication intake schedule. The data entry process is simple and straightforward; once you enter the information, the App is immediately connected to the dispenser. You can easily update the information or the intake schedule. The App is suitable for both Android and iOS devices.
Dispensing
Another essential interface of the product is the use of the screen and the buttons for the dispensing of the pills. When it is time for the medication, according to the schedule, the device starts alerting via sounds and flashing lights. When this happens, the user (usually the caregiver), needs to press the designated buttons on the screen (the buttons ‘Dispense’ and ‘Confirm’), and wait for the medications to be released in the designated pill cup.
Appearance
The efficiency of the HERO system is shown in its very appearance. For example, to get your attention, the device used different lights and sounds to emphasize reminders and notifications. For some people, who are for example asleep at the time of scheduled pill intake, this can be especially useful.
Pill Filling (Putting Medication Into The Device)
This might be one of the most essential factors regarding the user interface and user experience quality of the device. To fill the dispenser, you will need to use the interface of the device, meaning the screen and the buttons. The interface of the device shows how this easy process is to be completed. You choose the medication to be filled, add them to a designated cup, and then put the cup back into the device. The interface of the device will guide you through the same process with each type of medication.
Additional Information
- Power supply and connection – to work properly, the HERO dispenser requires a 100-24OV AC power or a standard wall outlet. But, unlike other modern pill dispensers, the HERO device doesn’t feature a backup battery, which can be an issue in case of a power outage. The WiFi connection is imperative for this device so that the user can through the App connect to the device, set the medication schedule, and complete other important requirements.
- Remote device use – using the HERO App allows you to adjust the medication schedule and doses from anywhere. However, that is only possible if they are actually inside the dispenser compartments. But, providing the pills are in the dispensers, this can be extremely useful. For example, if the patient is, for example, left alone for a moment, the caregiver or family connection to the device can adjust the schedule and doses remotely.
- Device setup – the initial setup can be a bit complex, but still within normal standards. You will need to use both your phone and the dispenser. The overall setup routine is intuitive and straightforward; you only need to follow the directions shown on the dispenser screen and the App. If you find the setup to be complex, you can always contact HERO Customer Support for more info and additional help.
- Physical and cognitive impairments use – even though the device has an excellent interface, it may not be suitable for people with serious physical or cognitive impairments. For example, people who experience tremors may click on the wrong buttons when trying to navigate between the Dispense and the Filler interface. The device is NOT intended to be used by people with dementia.
- Security against others using the device – there are cases when other people want to use your medication. This can be a problem for the patient, so to avoid such an issue, the HERO dispenser requires passcode access for anyone using it. This means that the medication will not be released unless the passcode has been entered.
- Security against hacking – many HERO users share a similar concern, usually relating to the possibility of the dispenser being hacked. The concerns are justified because everything connected to the Internet is at risk for hacking attempts. However, the company behind HERO claims that the system is not hackable and that the users don’t have to worry.
- Pricing – you can have the HERO dispenser for an Initiation Fee of $99.99, and a monthly membership fee of $29.99. With the membership, you’re getting access to the dispenser, the HERO integrated app, HERO medication refill service, and 24/7 Customer Support.
Final Thoughts
We are fairly more than satisfied with this device. It is one of the best on the market for a reason. The dispenser is reliable, safe, and manages medication excellently. The HERO pill dispenser will surely come in handy for chronically ill or older patients. They will be more likely to adhere to their prescribed medication, and of course, will have peace of mind in regards to late or missed doses. HERO can be potentially life-saving for many people, so we surely recommend it.
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