A method and apparatus for use with a processor, a database and an interface including a display screen, the database including schedule information associated with utilization of time for at least one medical resource that may be scheduled for use over a period including several sub-periods, the method for aiding a scheduler responsible for scheduling the resource to optimally schedule new requests for the resource's time, the method comprising the steps of identifying a utilization value for at least one schedule sub-period for the at least one resource wherein the utilization value indicates current use of time for the at least one sub-period for the at least one resource, identifying an optimization indicator at least in part as a function of the utilization value for the at least one sub-period and presenting the optimization indicator via the display.