Princeton | Dr. Barbara R. Edwards

July 28, 2022July 27, 2022

Best Foods For Eye Health

Eating healthy foods can give a large variety of benefits both physically and mentally. They can help to sharpen the mind, give you more energy, and give other important boosts to everyday bodily functions. However, not many people consider eating healthy food to be a factor in improving eyesight. You might be surprised at how many normal foods we eat every day can contribute to better eyesight and eye health overall. Here are some of the best foods for eye health:

Fish

More specifically, salmon, fish is rich in fatty acids called Omega-3s. These contribute greatly to eye health by helping to improve visual development and retina health while even assisting in preventing dry eyes. It is recommended that one eats wild-caught options instead of farm-raised as wild-caught has more omega-3s and less saturated fat.

Eggs

An extremely versatile food, eggs contribute to eye health in more ways than one. The yolk alone contains potential eye boosters like Vitamin A, zinc, zeaxanthin, and lutein. Vitamin A helps to protect the surface of the eye, the cornea. Zinc helps with retina health while zeaxanthin and lutein help to prevent age-related eye conditions like cataracts.

Dairy

Many dairy products have the potential to aid in eye health. Products like yogurt and milk have Vitamin A, which adds protection to the cornea, and zinc, which can prevent conditions like cataracts and even aid in seeing at night! Grass-fed cows are recognized as being a source for more of these benefits so look for products that mention grass-fed on the label.

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards, Princeton Internist, practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center. She is also the Academic Director for the Ambulatory Residency Program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health.

August 15, 2018July 30, 2018

Calling All Volunteers in Princeton, NJ!

Volunteering your time to help and give back to others is always a great decision. Not only do others benefit from your kindness, but volunteering positively impacts your physical and mental health, as many studies have shown. Volunteering has been proven to improve your mood and decrease the chances of feeling lonely because it provides a sense of purpose. Other benefits of volunteering include gaining experience and skills you wouldn’t otherwise learn, earning community service hours, and it is a great way to meet new people and network.

Why Volunteer?

Volunteer work includes a wide variety of different tasks. Whether you enjoy being outside, playing with animals or working on a computer, volunteers are always welcome and needed in all areas. Often our lives are busy between work, family and other duties and it seems difficult to find time to fit volunteering into your schedule. Actually, organizations that are looking for volunteers often offer flexible hours, and they will be grateful for any time that you can put aside for their cause.

Princeton Volunteer Opportunities

1. Penn Medicine Princeton Health

Love the medical field or looking to pursue a career in it? Volunteering your time at Penn Medicine Princeton Health is a great way to gain experience, meet other professionals in the industry, and give back to the community. A wide variety of jobs and tasks are available for volunteers, so find your fit today by contacting the Penn Medicine Princeton Health volunteer department.

2. Princeton Family YMCA

Volunteers are always welcome at the Princeton Family YMCA and play a vital role in the success of programs and events at the YMCA. Volunteers can be responsible for helping at events, coaching and mentoring children, and assisting children with disabilities. Each year volunteers invest hundreds of hours at the Princeton YMCA to serve and give back to their community. Learn more about the Princeton YMCA volunteer opportunities here.

These are just a few examples of volunteer opportunities in the Princeton area, discover more here.

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards is a doctor of Internal Medicine in the Princeton, New Jersey area – practicing at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

July 11, 2018July 30, 2018

Summer Happenings at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center

Dr. Barbara R Edwards, Dr. Edwards Princeton, Dr. Barbara Edwards Princeton

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center has undergone major changes in the past year. One of the most notable improvements for our patients this summer is the rollout of PennChart by Epic, an electronic medical record keeping system. The hospital, along with many of the outpatient departments went live on Saturday, June 9^thand the launch went smoothly. Following the successful rollout will be six additional offices planned to go live August 14^th. The system will be fully implemented throughout the hospital system this coming fall.

Benefits for Patients and Physicians

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center has been working with Epic, a software development company who engineered this electronic health record system (EHR) for years. The goal of the EHR system is to unify all medical records for the entirety of the Penn Medicine hospital system. Along with making it easier for all medical staff to securely collect, store and share patient medical information system-wide, PennChart also has a patient portal. Within the portal, patients will have access to their records and will be able to schedule appointments and contact their physicians at their convenience.

Streamlined Medical Services

Hospitals all over the country have been using EHR systems similar to PennChart because they facilitate accurate patient diagnosing and prescribing of medicine. The goal of converting to complete electronic records is to make the patient experience more effective and efficient. With a patient’s entire medical history at the fingertips of the physician, the best care plan can be put into place. Epic’s EHR system is one of the top EHR systems on the market and is used in over 50% of hospitals in the United States. Penn Medicine has been working with Epic for over 10 years and is excited to see how this change will positively impact the hospital’s patients and physicians. The implementation of PennChart ensures the continuity and efficiency in the care of our patients, which is always our primary priority.

More information at https://www.epic.com/about.

Dr. Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

April 16, 2018May 30, 2018

Volunteer Opportunities in the Princeton Area

By volunteering, you will discover all the benefits, both for the volunteer and for the community. Being a volunteer has personal benefits which include skill development, improved quality of life and making contacts for future possible employment. The list goes on, but volunteering can also be overwhelming if you don’t manage your time effectively. Some go overseas to volunteer in other countries and stay for weeks, but if it’s your first time volunteering it can be better to start off a few days at a time, for just a few hours. That’s why volunteering locally is a perfect way to start giving back. Since I practice near Princeton, NJ, here are some ideas of places to volunteer in the Princeton area:

The Watershed
The Watershed is an organization in central New Jersey with a mission of keeping water clean, safe and healthy. They are constantly looking for people who are willing to volunteer. By volunteering at The Watershed, you could help by clearing brush, feeding their animals, helping out with office work, staffing the front desk or assisting at one of their events. No matter if you enjoy the great outdoors, or to be in an office, there is a wide range of opportunities to choose from.

TASK – Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
TASK is a non-profit organization with a mission to feed the hungry in the Trenton area. TASK truly depends on the help from volunteers. They have volunteer opportunities both on-site and off-site. By being an on-site volunteer, you get to help prepare and serve food. Since offers different programs for all ages, families can find ways to give back to the Princeton community. If you don’t have the ability to be on-site, you can still prepare and drop off lunch and dinner.

Arm in Arm
Arm in Arm is a non-profit organization which welcomes more than 4,000 families to their food pantries. Families in the Princeton area turn to Arm in Arm for food and financial support, and they also work with prevention of homelessness with on-the-job training and job search mentoring. Depending on your interests and goals, there are different areas in which you can help. Help out in the pantry by providing healthy food for families or working in the garden. You could also help the families find work and financial stability by being a Job Trainee Mentor, or conduct mock job interviews. If you feel like you have a special skill you think would benefit the families, feel free to contact them.

Everything you can do is highly appreciated, whether it’s donating a pair of socks to a shelter or serving food in a soup kitchen for a couple of hours. It’s important work like this that will keep these valuable non-profit organizations going.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton doctor internal medicine practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

February 28, 2018July 6, 2018

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center – Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center Accept $10,000 Donation

As an Internist at Penn Medicine Princeton Health Physicians at the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, I’m fortunate to also be the Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center. Recently, we accepted a generous donation from the Provident Bank Foundation to support our Diabetes Program at the Health Center.

A Bit About Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center

For those who are uninsured or underinsured, getting sick is more than just a quick trip to the doctor’s office. These individuals can end up with medical bills they may be unable to pay, and as doctors, we want to provide quality care regardless of insurance status. The mission of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center is to provide comprehensive healthcare to those uninsured or underinsured in the communities of Mercer and Middlesex Counties. We also put a focus on providing mental health services for patients whose physical illnesses can be worsened by mental health issues.

Diabetes Program

The Diabetes Program at our health center empowers diabetic individuals in our community to maintain control of their disease through education, diet and exercise. Diabetes is a serious medical condition for millions throughout the country which causes blood sugar to spike, and must be closely monitored. In our program alone, there are over 500 patients enrolled with that number expected to rise.

We are incredibly grateful to the Provident Bank Foundation, who has granted more than $22 million over the years to nonprofits and institutions who work to build more resilient communities.