Now accepting international patients

Specialist care for
Long COVID & ME/CFS

A doctor-assisted virtual clinic led by Dr. Danilo Buonsenso, MD PhD — one of the world's leading researchers in Long COVID and ME/CFS in both adults and children. Complete internationally validated clinical scales from anywhere in the world, and receive a personalised specialist assessment supported by AI, under Dr. Buonsenso's direct supervision.

Why this clinic? Read the book

Available for adult patients (18+) and children (under 18) · International patients welcome

🏥 Gemelli IRCCS, Rome
📄 Co-author of both PC-COS adult & children consensus studies
🌍 International patients accepted
📊 Evidence-based outcome scales
🔒 GDPR-compliant
Dr. Danilo Buonsenso, MD PhD
Paediatric Infectious Diseases specialist and internationally recognised Long COVID researcher, based at Gemelli IRCCS in Rome.
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Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, RomeOne of Europe's premier academic medical centres — Italy's leading research hospital associated with the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
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Specialist in Paediatric Infectious DiseasesWith specific clinical and research expertise in post-infectious syndromes, Long COVID, and ME/CFS in both adults and children. Sees patients across the full age range.
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Co-author of the clinical scales used in this platformDr. Buonsenso contributed to the development of both the adult PC-COS (Lancet Respir Med 2022) and PC-COS Children (Eur Respir J 2024) international core outcome sets — the scientifically validated frameworks that form the backbone of this intake.
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Extensive peer-reviewed publicationsDozens of papers on Long COVID pathogenesis, clinical outcomes, and treatment in high-impact journals. Author of the book Long Covid: No Filter (available on Amazon).
Lancet Respiratory Medicine European Respiratory Journal Acta Paediatrica Nature Medicine JAMA
More than an appointment — a clinical baseline for life
This platform was designed to do something that a standard appointment cannot: give you a scientifically rigorous, validated clinical baseline that serves multiple purposes over time.
Initial assessment
01

A complete specialist assessment — from anywhere in the world

You do not need to travel to Rome, wait months for an NHS or public health referral, or explain your full history from scratch in a 10-minute appointment. The intake captures everything a specialist would want to know — your complete medical history, every medication tried, all investigations, and full validated symptom profiles — giving Dr. Buonsenso the information he needs before your consultation even begins.

Evidence-based measurement
02

Validated scales — not just a symptom list

The outcome scales in this platform are not questionnaires invented for this website. They are internationally validated tools established by rigorous scientific consensus involving hundreds of clinicians, researchers, and patients worldwide. This means your scores are comparable to research data, clinically meaningful, and recognised by specialists globally. This is the same level of assessment used in leading Long COVID research centres.

Longitudinal monitoring
03

A scientific baseline to measure progress over time

One of the most significant problems in Long COVID and ME/CFS care is the lack of objective, comparable measurements over time. By completing these validated scales at the start of your care, you establish a documented, scientifically rigorous baseline. Future assessments — whether in 3 months, 6 months, or 2 years — can be directly compared against these scores to objectively track improvement, deterioration, or response to treatment. This turns your clinical story into data.

Research contribution
04

Optional: contribute to advancing Long COVID science

With your optional consent, your anonymised data can contribute to ongoing research led by Dr. Buonsenso and collaborating institutions. Long COVID and ME/CFS research is still in a critical phase — patient data collected using validated instruments is exactly what is needed to understand the condition better, identify subtypes, and develop effective treatments. You can also consent to be contacted about future clinical trials you may be eligible for.

Everything included
Full COVID and clinical history
Complete medication record with response ratings
All 12 PC-COS adult domains (adults) or 7 PC-COS Children domains (children)
Modified MRC Dyspnoea Scale (adults)
PedsQL™ Fatigue, GI & Cognitive Scales (children)
EQ-5D Family with VAS (children)
Also included
Post-Exertional Malaise scale /36 — all ages
Auto-calculated domain scores with severity labels
Document upload — attach test results and reports
Formal privacy and research consent
Electronic signature
AI-assisted referral letter under Dr. Buonsenso's supervision
How it works
From first contact to specialist consultation — a clear, guided process.
1

Pay your voluntary fee

Send a voluntary contribution (€5 or multiples) to Dr. Buonsenso via Revolut (@danilo8rht) or Bitcoin. Any amount is welcome.

2

Request access

Message Dr. Buonsenso via Substack or email. He will send you a secure link and your personal single-use password — usually within 48 hours.

3

Complete your intake

Fill in your full clinical history and all validated outcome scales at your own pace. Your scores are calculated automatically. Upload your documents.

4

Receive your referral & book

An AI-assisted referral letter is generated under Dr. Buonsenso's supervision. Send it to him and agree a consultation time.

Adult and paediatric pathways
Two separate, scientifically validated intake pathways for adults and for children and young people.
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Adult Patient (18 and over)

Covers all 12 domains of the internationally validated PC-COS adult core outcome set: fatigue, pain, post-exertional symptoms, cardiovascular, respiratory (MRC Dyspnoea Scale), nervous system, cognitive function, mental health, physical functioning, and work/study impact.

PC-COS · Munblit et al., Lancet Respir Med 2022 · PMID 35714658
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Paediatric Patient (under 18)

Completed by a parent or legal guardian. Uses the PC-COS Children outcome set with validated instruments: PedsQL™ Fatigue, PedsQL™ GI, PedsQL™ Cognitive, and EQ-5D Family — plus cardiovascular and school/social impact domains.

PC-COS Children · Seylanova, Buonsenso et al., Eur Respir J 2024 · PMID 38359962
Internationally validated outcome scales

Every scale used in this platform was established by rigorous international Delphi consensus. Dr. Buonsenso is a co-author on both consensus studies — meaning the tools in this intake reflect his own scientific contributions to the field.

Adults · 18+

PC-COS Adult Core Outcome Set

12 core outcomes for Long COVID in adults — Delphi consensus involving 1,535 participants from 71 countries. Covers fatigue, pain, post-exertion symptoms, cardiovascular (palpitations, POTS, chest symptoms), respiratory (MRC Dyspnoea Scale), neurological, cognitive, mental health, sleep, physical functioning, and work/study changes. Automatically scored by domain with totals and severity labels.

Munblit et al., Lancet Respir Med 2022 · PMID 35714658

Children · Under 18

PC-COS Children Core Outcome Set

7 core domains for Long COVID in children with consensus-validated instruments: PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, PedsQL™ GI Symptom Scales, PedsQL™ Cognitive Functioning Scale, EQ-5D Family with VAS — plus cardiovascular and school/study/social change domains. Scores converted to 0–100 scale per PedsQL™ scoring convention.

Seylanova, Buonsenso et al., Eur Respir J 2024 · PMID 38359962

All ages · Core outcome

Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) Scale

9-item validated scale measuring PEM — the hallmark feature of ME/CFS and a key feature of Long COVID. Total score /36 with severity classification, plus detailed assessment of triggers, delay to onset, and episode duration. Included for all patients regardless of age or pathway. Used as both a diagnostic and longitudinal monitoring tool.

Core outcome for ME/CFS and Long COVID · All ages

AI-assisted, doctor-supervised
At the end of your intake, Claude AI (by Anthropic) generates a comprehensive, formally structured medical referral letter containing all your scores and clinical information.

What the referral letter contains

The letter is addressed directly to Dr. Buonsenso and written as a formal medical document. It includes your full clinical summary, all validated domain scores with totals and denominators, your PEM score /36 with severity and worst-rated items highlighted, key medications and their effects, a list of uploaded documents, and your specific questions for Dr. Buonsenso.

The letter cites the relevant scientific references (Munblit et al. 2022 or Seylanova/Buonsenso et al. 2024) and is formatted so that Dr. Buonsenso can immediately use it to prepare for your consultation — and as a dated, scored baseline record of your condition at the time of first assessment.

⚕ Important notice: The AI-assisted referral letter is a structured clinical summary tool developed and operated under the direct supervision and clinical indications of Dr. Danilo Buonsenso, MD PhD. It does not constitute a medical diagnosis or treatment recommendation. It serves as a pre-consultation document to facilitate a formal specialist assessment. Dr. Buonsenso reviews all submitted letters personally before any consultation is confirmed.
Free access · Voluntary donation
The platform is completely free to use. A voluntary donation helps cover server costs and AI infrastructure.
1

Click Start and enter your name & email

Access is immediate — no password needed, no waiting. You receive a unique personal code. Save it to return for follow-up assessments in future months.

2

Complete the clinical intake form

Fill in your full history and all validated outcome scales at your own pace, in your chosen language (IT/EN/FR/ES). Scores are calculated automatically.

3

Receive your AI-assisted referral letter

An AI-assisted letter is generated under Dr. Buonsenso's direct supervision. Email it to danilo.buonsenso@policlinicogemelli.it to agree a consultation time.

4

Optional: make a voluntary donation

A voluntary donation of any amount helps cover the costs of running this platform — server, AI API calls, and development. Pay what you can, when you can.

Voluntary donation — suggested amounts:
💳

Revolut

@danilo8rht

Any currency · with or without Revolut

Pay via Revolut →
🅿

PayPal

Danilo Buonsenso

Select "Sending to a friend"

Pay via PayPal →

Bitcoin (BTC)

1ARVE5QmQuKKBHMgUwkSmjNsB7tNK4SrK6

Copy address to your wallet

No donation required to use the platform. If you cannot afford to donate at this time, please complete the form anyway — access to specialist knowledge should not depend on financial means.

Frequently asked questions
Is there a fixed price for access?
No. Access is by voluntary contribution — there is no fixed fee. The suggested starting amount is €5, but you are welcome to contribute any multiple (€10, €15, €20 and so on). The intake form and referral letter are identical regardless of the amount you contribute. The contribution goes directly to Dr. Buonsenso to support his clinical work and Long COVID research.
Should I read the book or blog before completing the intake?
It is strongly recommended. Reading Dr. Buonsenso's Substack blog and/or his book Long Covid: No Filter (available on Amazon) will give you a clear understanding of his clinical approach and thinking before your consultation. Patients who arrive at their consultation having read these resources tend to get significantly more out of the appointment — they can ask more targeted questions and engage more deeply with the clinical discussion.
Who is this virtual clinic for?
Adults (18+) and children (under 18, with a parent or guardian) with suspected or confirmed Long COVID or ME/CFS, anywhere in the world. You do not need to be based in Italy or to have seen a specialist before.
Why are validated scales important — why not just describe my symptoms?
Validated scales allow your symptoms to be measured in a standardised, scientifically recognised way. This matters for three reasons: (1) it means your assessment is comparable to research data and to other patients worldwide; (2) it provides an objective baseline so that future assessments can genuinely measure whether you have improved, stayed the same, or deteriorated; and (3) it gives Dr. Buonsenso structured clinical information that is far more useful than a narrative description alone. This is particularly important in Long COVID and ME/CFS, where symptoms are complex, fluctuating, and often dismissed when not measured properly.
Does the intake replace a formal consultation?
No. The intake form and referral letter are a prerequisite for a formal consultation — they allow Dr. Buonsenso to review your complete clinical picture in advance so that the consultation is as efficient and productive as possible. The consultation is agreed separately after you send your referral letter.
What is the AI referral letter and is it safe?
The referral letter is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) as a structured clinical summary of your intake data. It is produced under the direct supervision and clinical indications of Dr. Buonsenso — he reviews all submitted letters personally before confirming a consultation. The letter does not make diagnoses or treatment recommendations; it organises your clinical information in a medically precise, formally structured format.
Can I participate in research through this platform?
Optionally, yes. During the consent step you can agree to have your anonymised data used for academic research and to be contacted about future clinical studies or trials for which you may be eligible. This is entirely voluntary and has no effect on your clinical care.
How long does the intake take?
Most patients complete the adult intake in 30–45 minutes. The paediatric intake takes a similar time. You can take as long as you need — there is no time limit. Accurate, thoughtful answers produce a more useful referral letter and a more productive consultation.
Is my data safe?
Yes. The intake form is accessed via a personal password known only to you and Dr. Buonsenso. Your clinical data is processed solely for the purpose of generating your referral letter and facilitating your consultation. Data is handled in accordance with GDPR. Optional consent for anonymised research is separate and clearly labelled.

Ready to begin your clinical assessment?

Free access, instant code, no appointment needed. Complete your validated intake and receive an AI-assisted referral letter under Dr. Buonsenso's supervision.

Read the Substack Get the book

New patient — begin your intake

Enter your name and email. You will receive a unique personal code — save it to access your follow-up assessment in future.

Please enter your first name, last name, and email address.

Returning patient? Enter your code for follow-up

Code not found. Please check and try again, or start a new intake above.
Step 1 of 10
Welcome to your Patient Portal
Access granted by Dr. Danilo Buonsenso. This secure intake form will guide you through a full clinical assessment. An AI-assisted referral letter will be generated under Dr. Buonsenso's direct supervision. Please complete all sections honestly — there are no right or wrong answers.

Select whether this form is for an adult patient (18+) or a child or young person (under 18). For children, the form should be completed by a parent or legal guardian.

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Adult Patient (18+)

PC-COS adult core outcome set · Munblit et al., Lancet Respir Med 2022

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Paediatric Patient (under 18)

PC-COS Children outcome set · Seylanova & Buonsenso et al., ERJ 2024

COVID-19 & Clinical History
Medications & Treatments — Past & Present
List all medications, supplements and treatments tried. Include dose and whether you noticed any benefit.
Drug / SupplementStatusDoseResponse
Previous specialist care
📋 Paste Your Lab & Investigation Results Optional — recommended
If you have digital copies of your results, paste the key values directly here as text — this is more useful than attaching a PDF, because the AI can read and include the values in your referral letter. You don't need to paste everything — just the results you consider most relevant. If a result was normal, you can simply write "normal".
Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) Scale — Core outcome for ME/CFS and Long COVID in all ages. PEM is a significant, characteristic worsening of symptoms after physical or mental exertion. Rate each item for the past 6 months. 0 = not a problem; 4 = very severe problem. Maximum total score: 36 points.
PEM Symptom Severity Core outcome — all ages
PEM Triggers & Pattern
Additional Clinical Information
💙 Donazione volontaria — Voluntary donation
This platform is free to access. However, maintaining it — server costs, AI API costs per letter generated, and the time required to develop and update the tools — has a real cost. A voluntary donation of any amount helps Dr. Buonsenso keep this service running and accessible to patients worldwide who often have no other specialist option. There is no fixed amount — give what you can and feel is fair.

Suggested amounts (click to select, then pay via your preferred method below):

Any amount is welcome — including smaller amounts. Your contribution directly supports the platform, the AI infrastructure, and Dr. Buonsenso's ongoing Long COVID and ME/CFS research.

💳 Revolut
@danilo8rht

Works with or without a Revolut account — accepts any currency

Pay via Revolut →
🅿 PayPal
danilo.buonsenso
@policlinicogemelli.it

Send via PayPal to the email above — select "Sending to a friend"

Pay via PayPal →
₿ Bitcoin (BTC)
1ARVE5QmQuKKBHMgUwkSmjNsB7tNK4SrK6

Copy the address and send from any Bitcoin wallet

After donating, there is no need to send Dr. Buonsenso proof of payment — your donation is appreciated on trust. If you genuinely cannot afford to donate at this time, please complete the form anyway — access to specialist knowledge should not depend on financial means.
Wearable Device Data Optional
If you use a wearable device (Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, Oura Ring, Whoop, or any other), your recorded data can provide valuable objective information about heart rate variability, resting heart rate, sleep patterns, and activity levels — all directly relevant to Long COVID and ME/CFS assessment. Fill in as many fields as you have data for. Leave blank anything you don't track.
Device information
Heart Rate & HRV Data
Heart rate variability (HRV) and resting heart rate are clinically relevant in Long COVID — reduced HRV and elevated resting HR are common in autonomic dysfunction and POTS. Enter your typical recent values. You can find these in your device's app (Apple Health, Fitbit app, Oura app, etc.).

💡 Non sai come interpretare i dati? / Not sure how to read your data? Skip the fields below and scroll to the end of this step — there is a box where you can paste your data directly from the app, exactly as it appears. No interpretation needed.
💡 Alternatively: don't fill in any fields above — just paste your raw HR/HRV data directly into the free-text box at the bottom of this step.
Sleep Data
Sleep disturbance and unrefreshing sleep are core outcomes in Long COVID and ME/CFS. Wearable sleep data can provide objective confirmation of subjective sleep complaints.

💡 Non sai come interpretare i dati? / Not sure? Scroll to the bottom of this step and paste your sleep data directly from the app — no interpretation needed.
💡 Alternatively: skip the fields above and paste your raw sleep data (screenshots described or app export) into the free-text box at the bottom of this step.
Activity & Recovery Data
Activity data is particularly relevant in Long COVID and ME/CFS for understanding energy expenditure, post-exertional patterns, and pacing capacity. Even very low step counts are clinically informative.

💡 Non sai come interpretare i dati? / Not sure? Scroll to the bottom of this step and paste your activity data directly from the app — any format is fine.
💡 Alternatively: skip the fields above and paste everything into the free-text box below — raw data copied from the app is perfectly fine.
Export Your Data Optional — recommended
You can export your wearable data as a file and attach it to your email to Dr. Buonsenso alongside your referral letter. This gives him access to the full dataset rather than just your summary values above. Instructions for common devices:
🍎 Apple HealthOpen the Health app → your profile icon (top right) → Export All Health Data → Share the zip file
💍 Oura RingOpen Oura app → Profile → Data Export → Export as CSV
⌚ FitbitGo to fitbit.com → Settings → Data Export → Export Account Archive
🔋 Whoop / GarminUse the app's data export or screenshot your dashboard trends over the past 30–90 days and attach as images
Attach your exported data file or screenshots directly to the same email as your referral letter. Label it clearly (e.g. "Apple_Health_Export_May2025.zip"). This step is optional but strongly encouraged — objective wearable data is increasingly valuable in specialist assessment of Long COVID and ME/CFS.
📋 Paste or Describe Your Wearable Data in Text Optional — very useful
If you cannot export your data as a file, or simply prefer it, paste or type your key readings here as free text. The AI reads these values and includes them in your referral letter. Approximate values, screenshots described in words, or even a narrative description of what you observe in your data are all helpful.
Medical Documents
Please send your documents by email. To keep this form lightweight and avoid technical issues, we ask you not to upload files here. Instead, simply attach your documents directly to the email when you send your referral letter to Dr. Buonsenso.
What to send by email

When you email your referral letter to danilo.buonsenso@policlinicogemelli.it, please attach any of the following that you have:

🧪 Blood & lab resultsPDFs or photos of recent blood tests, inflammatory markers, immunology, hormones, vitamins
🫀 Cardiology reportsTilt table test, Holter monitor, ECG, echocardiogram, blood pressure logs
🧠 Imaging & neurologyMRI reports, CT scans, EEG, nerve conduction studies, neuropsychological assessments
📋 Specialist lettersPrevious referral letters, discharge summaries, specialist opinions, CAMHS reports (children)
💡 Tip — also paste key values as text in Step 2. If you have lab results with numerical values (e.g. ferritin, Vitamin D, cortisol, tilt test result), copy-pasting them into the text fields in Step 2 means the AI can read and include them directly in your referral letter — more useful than an attached PDF alone.
Summary — how to send everything to Dr. Buonsenso:
1. Complete all steps of this form and generate your referral letter
2. Copy the letter and paste it into an email to danilo.buonsenso@policlinicogemelli.it
3. Attach your medical documents (PDFs, photos, reports) to the same email
4. Attach any wearable data exports from Step 7
5. Dr. Buonsenso will review everything and contact you to agree a consultation time
Privacy, Consent & Data Agreement
Please read each statement and tick all that apply. Items marked * are required to proceed.
Signed electronically on:
⚕ AI-Assisted Referral Letter — Supervised Medical Document
Generated using AI as a structured clinical summary under the direct supervision and clinical indications of Dr. Danilo Buonsenso, MD PhD, Specialist in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Long COVID & ME/CFS (Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy). This does not constitute a medical diagnosis or treatment recommendation.
Your Personalised Referral Letter
Generating your personalised referral letter — this may take 20–30 seconds…