A 54-year-old female patient is scheduled for an abdominal ultrasound to investigate her complaint of intermittent, non-specific abdominal pain. What steps should the medical assistant take to prepare the patient for this procedure?
Instruct the patient not to empty their bladder before the procedure.
Advise the patient to drink a carbonated beverage just before the procedure to improve image quality.
Perform a quick electrocardiogram (EKG) to assess the patient's cardiovascular status prior to the ultrasound.
Instruct the patient to consume a light meal 30 minutes before the procedure.