Exhibit 32.1

                  CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER


         Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C.
         Sec 1350), the undersigned, Daniel P. McCartney, Chief Executive
         Officer of Healthcare Services Group, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation
         (the "Company"), does hereby certify, to his knowledge, that:


     The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 of the
     Company (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section
     13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the information
     contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the
     financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



                                                       /s/ Daniel P. McCartney
                                                       -----------------------
                                                       Daniel P. McCartney
                                                       Chief Executive Officer
                                                       February 26, 2004