-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DDVNJT2kgv/G3P6n6FfOhfvkG3tSwgjpyL51Ip8b16D9BA47jrWcJLpyUEVNxrBd
 aRBwRtlSeT/Z3UDfqINPNg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001248048-07-000001.txt : 20070921
<SEC-HEADER>0001248048-07-000001.hdr.sgml : 20070921
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070921205447
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001248048-07-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070917
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070921
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070921

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000096793
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-GENERAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL HOSPITALS, NEC [8062]
		IRS NUMBER:				310621189
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 CIRCLE 75 PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1300
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7709337000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 CIRCLE 75 PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1300
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KRUG INTERNATIONAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TECHNOLOGY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860803

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMANCO INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710719

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TURNER HOWARD E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248048

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12607
		FILM NUMBER:		071130396

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1230 PEACHTREE ST NE
		STREET 2:		STE 3100
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30309
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7709337000
</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>2007-09-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096793</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ssy</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248048</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TURNER HOWARD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1230 PEACHTREE STREET NE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30309</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-09-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4857</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-09-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4857</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29607</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted pursuant to the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option vests in three equal installments beginning 9/17/2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">7,500 exercisable at $1.50; 6,250 exercisable at $2.90; 5,500 exercisable at $9.63; 5,500 exercisable at $6.55; and 4,857 exercisable at $8.00.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Howard E. Turner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-09-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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