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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204310</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAHANE STEPHEN N</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>Vice Chair.&amp;Chief Strategy Off</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35565</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">includes 175 shares acquired in connection with the company-sponsored 401(k) Plan on 7/1/04 at $3.46 per share.  Also includes 134 shares purchased through the company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan on 7/30/04 at $2.7625 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John M. Weaver for Stephen N. Kahane</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

