CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                        (Sec. 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act)


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 11-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 of
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan (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 Plan.

Date:  June 28, 2004                           /s/ Daniel P. McCartney
                                               -----------------------
                                               By:     Daniel P. McCartney
                                               Title:  Chief Executive Officer



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