Hero Reviews 41

For the most part the HERO medication dispenser, does it job well, it dispenses medication, but if you’re like me and don’t necessarily care about the adherence percentage, but it bothers you to see the numbers are off because the machine has made errors that you can’t fix is a bit frustrating.
One of my primary reasons for getting HERO was the medication count. When I setup the machine I sat on the floor with a letter opener and colored and white paper (to offset the medication colors) to count medication. I felt like a real pharmacist. I input the numbers into the app and put the pills in the machine when it was time. Two weeks later, there is no count. Its count is ‘estimating’, medium, low, or high. To fix this, I must recount the medication and re-input the numbers in the machine. Here’s to hoping it’s that easy and I don’t have delete medications entirely, again.
Secondly, I wanted to be able to “remotely” give a medication away from home. Their use of remote is a misnomer at best. You should probably think of ‘a remote,’ versus “remote” dispensing. My son uses a PRN (as needed) medication and this feature excited me, then real life. The feature only tells the main unit to release any medications that you have previously scheduled. PRN medications can be added and dispensed through HERO, but they can only be accessed through the main unit. Which is weird because it defies what remote has come to mean and there are many elderly people who use PRN medications. As a care giver or parent; whatever one’s role. I would think this should be desired as an option. HERO, “remotes,” into its machines all the time. I would think they would appreciate, “remoting.” LOL
1. The “remote” dispense does not always dispense.
2. Medication(s) taken outside of HERO aren’t always recorded as taken.
3. You can’t schedule once a month medication.
4. The unit does not always record dispensed/scheduled medication accurately.
5. You cannot fix, manage, or change any inaccurate information once it is posted.
6. The functionality of the app and manger-user’s ability to function in it is extremely limited.
7. Often you must completely delete a medication to resolve minor issues.
As stated, the HERO serves its main function well. However, if seeing pie charts with percentages, receiving insight-based adherence or lack thereof along with limited app functionality and the inability to correct machine errors you may want to look for a different option.
My advice to HERO would be to offer different levels of management. Not everybody is technically unsavvy. There are many older persons who have kept-up and are quite astute and there are many potential customers who don’t like limitations or inaccurate information. Hence the suggestion for an app with different management levels so that you can reach a broader customer base.