Final answer:
For this patient presenting with fever/chills and a swollen, painful knee, emergency orders may include vital signs, pain relief, and blood tests. The physical exam would involve assessing the knee and conducting a musculoskeletal examination. Diagnostic tests may include joint fluid analysis and blood tests for rheumatologic markers. Therapy would depend on the diagnosis, location would be the primary care physician's office and the emergency department, and the possible diagnosis could be septic arthritis or an infectious process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the symptoms described, the emergency orders for this patient could include taking vital signs, administering pain relievers and antipyretics, and ordering blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and inflammatory markers like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) to assess for infection or inflammation.
The physical exam would involve assessing the patient's vital signs, examining the affected knee for signs of swelling, tenderness, warmth, and limited range of motion, and conducting a musculoskeletal examination to assess for any other joint involvement.
The diagnostic tests that may be ordered include joint fluid analysis to evaluate for infection or crystals, blood tests for rheumatologic markers like rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies to rule out rheumatoid arthritis, and imaging studies such as X-rays or MRI to evaluate the knee joint.
The therapy would depend on the diagnosis, but it may include oral or intravenous antibiotics for infection, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation, and referral to a specialist such as a rheumatologist or orthopedic surgeon if necessary.
The location for this patient's care would initially be the primary care physician's office and then the emergency department for further evaluation and management if needed.
The final order would depend on the diagnosis and response to therapy, and may involve continued medical management, a referral to a specialist for ongoing care, or further diagnostic tests if needed.
The possible diagnosis for this patient based on the given information could be septic arthritis or an infectious process involving the knee joint.