You can dispense remotely with the Hero app - just slide right when it's scheduled time. You can even help a loved one dispense a dose when youāre away from them.
How to dispense from the app:
When it's time to dispense, you will see Slide to dispense in the app - swipe right.
Once you slide to dispense, the app will show real-time progress as each pill is dispensed.
Just like a normal dispense, all of your settings will still apply, including the āDispense passcodeā feature. If this feature is turned ON, your passcode will be requested on the app before dispensing the medication remotely. To dispense a dose earlier than its scheduled time, navigate to More > Settings & Notifications > Dispense settings in the Hero app and select the "30 min Before Scheduled Time" option. This allows dispensing up to 30 minutes before the predetermined schedule.
See the video of how this feature works here:
Canāt find the remote dispensing feature? This is because the feature is only available to Admins (an admin is either a user or a caregiver that has set up the smart dispenser). Also, ensure that both the Hero device and the mobile app are connected to the internet. While they do not need to be on the same Wi-Fi network, both must be online for remote dispensing to function.
Handling Missed Doses
You can remotely dispense a missed dose using the Hero App during the default 4-hour dispense window. By default, the dispensing window lasts 4 hours after the scheduled time, but you can customize this window using the Hero app. To adjust the duration, navigate to More > Settings & Notifications > Dispense Settings > Dispense Window, and use the plus/minus icons to modify the duration. Additionally, enabling the "Allow to dispense outside window" option will extend the dispensing period by an additional 12 hours from the dispenser directly.
If you have enabled āAllow to dispense outside windowā in the Hero App, you can also dispense a missed dose on the smart dispenser outside the default 4-hour window, but in this case only from the smart dispenser. This extension allows users to dispense missed doses for up to 12 hours past the original 4-hour window on the smart dispenser.
To enable dispense outside the default 4-hour window:
Open the Hero App and go to the More tab.
Select Settings & Notifications ā Dispense Settings.
Toggle on Allow to dispense outside window. Missed doses will remain available for up to 12 hours past the original dispense window on the smart dispenser.
Adjust the dispensing window duration using the plus/minus icons if you wish to customize it.
Troubleshooting Dispensing Issues
Common Problems and Solutions:
Internet Connectivity: Ensure both the Hero device and mobile app are online for smooth dispensing.
Restricted Admin Permissions: Verify that you are logged into an admin account, as only admins can use the remote dispensing feature. You can find admin email on the smart dispenser, Device Settings > About > Device Info.
Make sure that 'Allow dispense via app' is enabled under More > Settings & Notifications > Dispense settings in the app.
Mechanical Failure: If a dose fails to dispense due to a mechanical issue, power-cycle the Hero device by unplugging it, waiting for at least 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and retrying the dispensing process.
FAQs
Can I remotely dispense pills early?
You can dispense pills up to 30 minutes before dose time. To enable this feature: Open the app and go to the āMoreā tab, then 'Settings & Notificationsā > āDispense settingsā > āDispense windowā. Check ā30 min Before Scheduled Timeā to allow dispensing up to 30 minutes early.
alternatively, you can dispense a future dose, but in this case only from the smart dispenser (from the main menu, select Dispense > Future Dose). You cannot dispense a future dose remotely from the app.
Can I remotely dispense medication from my phone as a caregiver? If you are a caregiver, who has admin privileges, then yes, you can remotely dispense medications from your phone. If you are a teammate, you cannot dispense remotely.
Can I dispense a skipped dose remotely? No, skipped medications cannot be dispensed remotely. They can only be dispensed from the smart dispenser within the default 4-hour dispensing window. You can adjust this setting in the app under More > Settings & Notifications > Dispense settings > Dispense window.
What happens if I use the "Future Dispense" option? If you pre-dispense a dose from the smart dispenser, as this is not available on the app, using the "Future Dose" option, the Hero app will remind you to take it at dose time, and the dispenser will not dispense it again at dose time, showing the next scheduled dose instead.