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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,
 Ax9Raw5wHBsp/c3GkQqIPWppAbGml/XYsfZeJQcA/umKHzNfOFQiFiY4XD2sKkVd
 bC7m0wea4MgUbOEn6qm/pQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000744825-09-000007.txt : 20090831
<SEC-HEADER>0000744825-09-000007.hdr.sgml : 20090831
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090831163929
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000744825-09-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090828
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090831
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090831

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:		091046423

	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>2009-08-28</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43632</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">REPRESENTS 10,000 SHARES REPURCHASED BY THE COMPANY.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CRAIG K TAGAWA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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