May 23, 2025:
As part of National EMS Week, American Medical Response ambulance service in Pierre held an open house and dedication Thursday (May 23, 2025) at its new EMS station.
Matthew Hardwick is the Operations Supervisor. He said the Kandace Kritz Training Center is named in honor of the 20-year paramedic and mentor who died in the line of duty in 2022.
Hardwick said the new EMS station provides significantly more space, something they’ve needed for many years.
Hardwick says AMR also provides training for area ambulance services, volunteer fire departments and other entities that respond to emergency calls.
AMR in Pierre is part of the Global Medical Response company. GMR says they are the leading integrated air and ground mobile patient care and EMS provider in the nation.
AMR’s new EMS station with the Kandace Kritz Training Center is located at 2315 E. Dakota Avenue in Pierre.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.

Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
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May 21, 2025:
As part of National EMS Week, American Medical Response ambulance service is holding an open house Thursday (May 22, 2025) at its new EMS station in Pierre.
The Kandace Kritz Training Center is named in honor of the 20-year paramedic, mentor, and operations supervisor who helped shape emergency care in central South Dakota. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kritz delayed her retirement in order to help her team. She passed away in 2022 from job-related COVID– a loss recognized as an in-the-line-of-duty death.
Thursday’s dedication, open house and ribbon are from 4-7pm CT, with the dedication at 4:30pm. The Kandace Kritz Training Center, located at 2315 E Dakota Avenue in Pierre, is a space dedicated to training future generations of EMS professionals.
The event will include guided tours, hands-only CPR and Stop the Bleed demonstrations, and a local EMS history exhibit.

Photo courtesy of AMR.






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