<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000744825-12-000006.txt : 20120611
<SEC-HEADER>0000744825-12-000006.hdr.sgml : 20120611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120611125705
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000744825-12-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120607
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120611
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120611

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUFFLE JOHN F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001032011

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08789
		FILM NUMBER:		12899909

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1170 EIGHTH AVENUE
		CITY:			BETHLEHEM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18016-7699

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-06-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001032011</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUFFLE JOHN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1170 EIGHTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BETHLEHEM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>18016-7699</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>2012-06-07</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>3.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>249911</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>3.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-07</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>3.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-06-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23000</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 JUNE 7, 2012, OR (II) SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S CONTINUATION IN BOARD SERVICE THROUGH THE DAY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE 2013 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 STOCK OPTION WILL VEST IN FULL UPON THE EARLIER OF (I) THE REPORTING PERSON'S COMPLETION OF ONE YEAR OF SERVICE MEASURED FROM JUNE 7, 2012 OR (II) SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S CONTINUATION IN BOARD SERVICE THROUGH THE DAY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE 2013 ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING (THE &quot;VESTING DATE&quot;).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ERIC OHWA ON BEHALF OF JOHN F RUFFLE</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-06-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
