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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VEaE69MqvY99OPwv3If/7YxgiS9zKOXOP7HtheZ/NzpOGCakR3u7AgeC7WaH4WRV
 hrBnFEniLeIOPI/cLah8cQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000744825-09-000002.txt : 20090825
<SEC-HEADER>0000744825-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090825
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090825132545
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000744825-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090528
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090825
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090825

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000744825
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MEDICAL LABORATORIES [8071]
		IRS NUMBER:				942918118
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FOUR EMBARCADERO CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3700
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111-4107
		BUSINESS PHONE:		415-788-5300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FOUR EMBARCADERO CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3700
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111-4107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000744825
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MEDICAL LABORATORIES [8071]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08789
		FILM NUMBER:		091033479

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FOUR EMBARCADERO CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3700
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111-4107
		BUSINESS PHONE:		415-788-5300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FOUR EMBARCADERO CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3700
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111-4107
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000744825</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000744825</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FOUR EMBARCADERO CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111-4107</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-05-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">THIS REPRESENTS AN AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS. EACH UNIT WILL ENTITLE THE REPORTING PERSON TO ONE SHARE OF THE ISSUER'S COMMON STOCK UPON VESTING. THE UNITS WILL VEST IN FULL UPON THE EARLIER OF (I) THE REPORTING PERSON'S COMPLETION OF ONE YEAR OF SERVICE MEASURED FROM MAY 28, 2009 OR (II) SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S CONTINUATION IN BOARD SERVICE THROUGH THE DAY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE 2009 ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING (THE &quot;VESTING DATE&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">INCLUDES 500 SHARES SUBJECT TO THE REPORTED RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD WHICH WILL VEST IN FULL ON THE VESTING DATE.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">THE REPORTED OPTION WILL VEST IN FULL UPON THE EARLIER OF (I) THE REPORTING PERSON'S COMPLETION OF ONE YEAR OF SERVICE MEASURED FROM MAY 28, 2009 OR (II) SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S CONTINUATION IN BOARD SERVICE THROUGH THE DAY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE 2009 ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING (THE &quot;VESTING DATE&quot;).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>OLIN C ROBISON</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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