<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-06-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001095565</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTHSTREAM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HSTM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217273</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRIST ROBERT A JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 11TH AVENUE NORTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASHVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-06-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>86372</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5016783</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On June 26, 2019, Robert A. Frist, Jr., the chief executive officer of HealthStream, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;), contributed 78,520 of his shares of Company common stock to the Company, without any consideration paid to Mr. Frist.  This contribution is for the benefit of approximately 820 Company employees, excluding executive officers.  The Company has approved the grant of that same number of shares contributed by Mr. Frist under its 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan to these employees.  It is contemplated that these shares, which will not be subject to any vesting conditions, will be issued in late July 2019.  In addition, on June 26, 2019, Mr. Frist contributed an additional 7,852 shares to the Company, without consideration paid to Mr. Frist, which amount is equivalent to the estimated Company costs associated with the equity grants, such as administrative expenses and employer payroll taxes, which will be associated with the grants.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert A. Frist, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-06-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
