Simplifying care for chronic conditions

We began by reviewing a set of predefined personas and selecting one to guide our design decisions. We chose Sarah, a university student newly diagnosed with a chronic condition. Designing for someone in a similar life stage allowed us to apply real empathy and realistic thinking, grounding our decisions in how students actually manage school, health, and independence. From there, we expanded our focus to the broader system.

Macro Problem

• Chronic illness in Ontario is rapidly increasing (projected 3.1M by 2040)

• The healthcare system is largely reactive, not proactive

Identifying the Gap

Through our research, we identified several key gaps:

• Lack of coordinated chronic disease management

• Healthcare interactions are often episodic, not continuous

• Patients may not fully understand the long-term consequences of delayed care

• Many individuals lack the time or capacity to prioritize their health due to school, work, or family demands

• Low awareness and understanding of insurance benefits, even when coverage exists

This creates a cycle where patients delay care, leading to worsening conditions and increased reliance on already overwhelmed hospital systems.

Opportunity

• Many students already have insurance (e.g., Sun Life) but don’t use it effectively.

• Vitalis focuses on making these benefits visible, understandable, and actionable, guiding users toward more proactive, consistent care through a simplified flow.