Papers of the Week

In recent years, the delivery of health services has undergone a major paradigm shift towards expanded outpatient services and widespread use of telemedicine. Post herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a treatment recalcitrant neuropathic pain condition referring to pain persisting more than three months from the initial onset of an acute herpes zoster. QUTENZA® (capsaicin 8% patch) is a single 1-hour localized treatment for PHN and can provide several months of pain relief per application. However, patient access to capsaicin 8% patch is limited due to sensitive handling protocols that require the patch application to occur under physicians or healthcare professionals under the close supervision of a physician. Herein, we describe the first successful treatment of PHN at-home, using capsaicin 8% patch, performed under full supervision and instruction from a physician using video telehealth services.