MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System has aced their report card, earning a five star-rating for the second year in a row from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“Last year we were one of three, this year we were one of only two hospitals in the state of Alabama to achieve a five star,” said CAVHCS C.E.O. Amir Farooqi. ” Really proud of our team, and if you have a chance to meet our in-patient care team there are folks who truly put their heart into our veterans. “

The report is based on five categories: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care.

Farooqi says the report is a result of hard work and consistency, and they won’t become complacent.

“This is the work we do every day,” touted Farooqi. “This is constantly working to improve so there’s no magic wand to this, it’s just the hard work and making sure that we keep that concentration, keep that effort towards the care, making sure we’re listening to our veterans. “

Central Alabama joins a positive trend in nationwide veteran care.

“77 percent of VA hospitals across the nation earned either a four star or five-star,” Farooqi cited. “None of them earned a one-star. I think that really says something about the care the VA is putting forward to our veterans.”

These recent reports are extra encouraging, because just over a decade ago, an audit uncovered that patient scheduling and other information was deliberately altered at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care Administration to disguise long wait times for care.

In fact, at the time, 57 percent of employees surveyed claimed they received instruction to manipulate wait times.

It seems those problems have mostly been resolved, since “timely and effective care” is a part of the evaluation.

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A police department in north Alabama has reached out to the state for help as it continues its investigation into a police chase that led to a crash on Saturday, killing a high schooler.

In a statement Tuesday evening, Hartselle police said it seeks to work with “specialized equipment“ and homicide investigators with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to be able to present an airtight case to the district attorney.

Tristan Hollis, 17, who attended Hartselle High School, died after the suspect’s vehicle struck a minivan where he was with three others, the police stated. His graveside service at Hartselle City Cemetery is on Thursday.

Police from the nearby city of Priceville were in pursuit of the suspect, identified as Archie Hale, fleeing on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the Hartselle Police Department. They entered Hartselle’s City limits from I-65, headed west on Highway 36/Main Street, and as the suspect entered the intersection of Highway 31 at a very high speed, he struck the minivan.

“The video also confirms the traffic light was red for the suspect vehicle,” the Hartselle Police Department stated.

The department said it reviewed the cameras from the pursuing officer’s vehicle, the surrounding area, and from its own police vehicles, which tried to intervene with Tire Deflation Devices.

Hartselle Police Chief Alan McDearmond, in the statement, described the incident as “the most egregious example of willful disregard for human life” he has encountered.

“We are committed to presenting a complete and evidence-based case to the District Attorney’s Office and will pursue justice relentlessly on behalf of the victims and their loved ones,” he added.

Meanwhile, Priceville Mayor Sam Heflin said the city has placed one of its officers, Garry Chapman, on administrative leave, following the incident.

Chapman, according to family and police Facebook posts, is the son of Duane Chapman, known as Dog the Bounty Hunter – the professional bounty hunter and reality TV star.