Exhibit 32.1

                    CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF 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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 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
                                                      July 26, 2004