Q. A 56-year-old male has come to the clinic complaining of severe abdominal pain for the past 24 hours. The pain is in the upper abdomen and radiates through his back. He describes it as constant, sharp, and more severe after eating. Associated symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and a decreased appetite. He admits to drinking about 8-10 beer cans daily for 30 years. His past medical history is remarkable for hypertension and type 2 diabetes. On physical examination, his vital signs are within normal limits except for a slightly elevated heart rate of 105 bpm. His abdomen is tender to palpation in the epigastric area with some voluntary guarding but no signs of rebound tenderness. The initial blood test results reveal a white blood cell count of 15.3 x 10^3/µL and a serum amylase of 1000 U/L. Additionally, lipase levels are found to be 1200 U/L. An abdominal ultrasound shows no evidence of gallstones. What is the most appropriate next management step for this patient's condition?