-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 8T51ogZQ2oJW+7ipdhoHlg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001204311-04-000001.txt : 20040624
<SEC-HEADER>0001204311-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040624
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040624163141
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001204311-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040426
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040624

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MANTO MICHAEL A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204311

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25311
		FILM NUMBER:		04879885

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VITALWORKS INC
		STREET 2:		239 ETHAN ALLEN HIGHWAY
		CITY:			RIDGEFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06877

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VITALWORKS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001028584
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				592248411
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		239 ETHAN ALLEN HIGHWAY
		CITY:			RIDGEFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06877
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038941300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		239 ETHAN ALLEN HIGHWAY
		CITY:			RIDGEFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06877

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VITAL WORKS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20010806

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INFOCURE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961209
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001028584</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VITALWORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>vwks</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204311</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MANTO MICHAEL A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VITALWORKS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>239 ETHAN ALLEN HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RIDGEFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06877</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. Vice Pres. &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>77321</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.57</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>105000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.57</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>105000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>105000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">includes shares acquired in connection with the company-sponsored 401(k) Plan: (168 shares on 7/1/03 at $3.89 per share and 153 shares on 4/1/04 at $3.77 per share).  Also includes 4866 shares acquired in connection with the company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan on 1/30/04 at $3.5445 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">the options vest and become exercisable on the sixth anniversary of the option grant date (4/26/10).  However, subject to attainment of certain finanical performance goals, a certain percentage of the options granted would be subject to accelerated vesting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John M. Weaver for Michael A. Manto</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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