Philips acquires Boston start-up Medumo to help hospitals communicate with patients

Dutch technology conglomerate Philips has acquired a small Boston-based health-tech start-up called Medumo for its health care business. Medumo uses a combination of email and SMS to deliver instructions to patients, on behalf of its hospital customers. The company, which has fewer than 30 employees, fits into the so-called “patient engagement” trend, which involves providing tools for medical providers to stay in touch with their patients outside of the four walls of the doctor’s office. For Philips, the acquisition could present an opportunity to build a service for its pre-existing health system customers.