Clinical Template

PIE Note Template and Examples

Last updated: October 6, 2026

Reviewed by the WellNotes Clinical Team

Type or dictate a quick session summary. Get a complete, problem-focused PIE note, with clear evaluation of intervention effectiveness, in under 2 minutes.

What is a PIE Note template?

A PIE note template has three sections: Problem (the specific issue addressed), Intervention (what you did about it) and Evaluation (how the client responded and whether the problem changed). PIE comes from nursing documentation and is common in case management and social work, where notes are organized around one identified problem at a time.

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What are PIE Notes?

PIE notes are a problem-focused documentation format originally developed for social work settings. The acronym stands for Problem, Intervention, and Evaluation: a concise three-section structure that centers documentation on the client's identified problems and the effectiveness of clinical responses.

The PIE format excels in settings where clear problem identification and outcome tracking are priorities. By starting with a specific problem statement, then documenting the intervention used, and concluding with an evaluation of effectiveness, PIE notes create a tight feedback loop that informs ongoing treatment decisions. This structure is especially valued by managed care organizations and agency settings that require evidence of treatment effectiveness.

PIE notes are widely used by clinical social workers, case managers, and community health providers. Their streamlined format reduces documentation burden while maintaining the clinical rigor needed for compliance and reimbursement.

PIE Note Template Structure

Use these 3 headings, in this order, for every pie note. Each card explains what belongs in the section.

Problem

The specific problem or clinical issue addressed during the session, stated clearly with observable indicators and connection to treatment goals.

Intervention

The clinical interventions applied to address the identified problem: therapeutic techniques, strategies, psychoeducation, or referrals provided.

Evaluation

Assessment of the intervention's effectiveness: client response, progress observed, and whether the problem was resolved, improved, unchanged, or worsened.

PIE Note Examples

4 filled examples for different sessions, written in the template above.

All examples are fictional and de-identified. They show structure and level of detail, not clinical advice for a real client.

PIE Note Example 1: Housing instability (case management)

Adult client seen by a social worker after receiving an eviction notice.

Problem: Client presents with acute housing instability following eviction notice received 3 days ago. Reports 30-day deadline to vacate current apartment due to landlord selling property. Client is a single mother with two children (ages 6 and 9). Expresses significant distress about potential homelessness and impact on children's school stability. Functioning is impaired: reports difficulty concentrating at work, disrupted sleep, and increased anxiety. This issue directly impacts Treatment Plan Goal #1: stabilize psychosocial stressors contributing to depressive symptoms.
Intervention: Conducted collaborative problem-solving to address housing crisis. Provided referrals to three community housing assistance programs: County Emergency Housing Authority, local Habitat for Humanity chapter, and faith-based transitional housing program. Reviewed tenant rights: provided information on local tenant protections and the eviction process in her state, and referred to legal aid for specifics. Assisted client in calling 211 for immediate housing resources during session. Applied cognitive restructuring to address catastrophic thinking ("we'll end up on the street") and helped client identify realistic options. Developed a prioritized action plan with daily steps for the next week.
Evaluation: Client demonstrated reduced distress by end of session: self-reported anxiety decreased from 8/10 to 5/10. Successfully contacted 211 and scheduled appointment with housing authority for next week. Was able to challenge catastrophic thoughts with evidence-based alternatives. Identified temporary housing option with family member if needed. Problem status: Active but stabilizing. Client reports feeling "like I have a plan now" versus the helplessness at session start. Will reassess housing status at next session.

PIE Note Example 2: Caregiver stress

Adult client caring for a parent with dementia, seen in a community agency.

Problem: Caregiver strain. Client reports sleeping about 5 hours a night, missing two days of work this month to cover care, and feeling "irritable all the time." No respite care in place. Denies SI/HI.
Intervention: Explored current care tasks and support network. Provided information on adult day programs and the local agency on aging. Helped client draft a weekly care schedule that includes her brother. Introduced a brief relaxation exercise.
Evaluation: Client identified two tasks her brother could take on and agreed to call the agency on aging this week. Rated stress 8/10 at start and 6/10 at end of session. Problem ongoing; will review respite options at next contact.

PIE Note Example 3: Medication follow-up (behavioral health nursing)

Adult client seen by a behavioral health nurse for medication follow-up.

Problem: Inconsistent medication adherence. Client reports missing evening doses 3 to 4 times a week because she "forgets after dinner." Reports mood "about the same." No side effects reported.
Intervention: Reviewed the prescribed regimen with the client. Discussed linking the evening dose to brushing her teeth and setting a phone alarm. Provided a weekly pill organizer. Notified the prescriber of missed doses per protocol.
Evaluation: Client demonstrated filling the pill organizer correctly and set a daily alarm during the visit. Verbalized understanding of the plan. Adherence to be reassessed by pill count at the next visit in 2 weeks.

PIE Note Example 4: Social isolation in an older adult (social work)

Older adult client seen at home by a community social worker after a referral from primary care.

Problem: Social isolation. Client has lived alone since her husband died eight months ago, leaves the house only for medical appointments and reports speaking to someone "maybe twice a week." Stopped attending church after losing her ride. States she feels "invisible." Denies SI. Home is clean and food is in the refrigerator.
Intervention: Explored past activities and what the client would like to restart. Provided information on the local senior center lunch program and the county paratransit service, and helped her complete the paratransit application during the visit. With her consent, called her church office to ask about volunteer drivers. Briefly screened for depressive symptoms; results shared with her primary care provider with consent.
Evaluation: Client completed the paratransit application and agreed to try the senior center lunch next Wednesday. Church office will call her back about a driver. She described the visit as "the first plan I have had in months." Problem ongoing; will follow up by phone in one week and visit again in two weeks.

PIE charting in nursing vs PIE notes in social work

The PIE structure is the same in both fields: one problem, the intervention for it, and an evaluation of the result. What changes is what counts as a problem and how the note fits into the record.

	PIE charting in nursing	PIE notes in social work and case management
Problem	A nursing problem, often stated as a nursing diagnosis, and usually numbered so later entries can refer to it	A psychosocial or practical problem such as housing, benefits, caregiver strain, isolation or a treatment goal
Intervention	Nursing actions: assessment, medication administration, teaching, notifying the provider	Counseling, education, referrals, advocacy and coordination with other agencies
Evaluation	The patient's response, often within the same shift, with the problem continued, revised or resolved	The client's response and progress, often reviewed at the next contact days or weeks later
Fits alongside	Flow sheets and routine assessments recorded separately	The service plan, case notes and any treatment plan

In social work and case management, write one PIE entry per problem addressed and say clearly whether each problem is resolved, improved or ongoing. For profession-specific examples, see notes for licensed clinical social workers and case management notes.

How to Write a PIE Note

Problem. Name one specific problem and the facts that describe it today. If several problems were addressed, write a separate P, I and E for each.
Intervention. List the actions you took for that problem: counseling, education, referrals, coordination or advocacy.
Evaluation. Describe the result: the client's response, progress made and whether the problem is resolved, improved or ongoing.

Common PIE Note Mistakes

Combining several problems into one entry, so it is unclear which intervention addressed which issue.
An Evaluation that only says "tolerated well" without any outcome.
Not stating whether the problem is resolved or ongoing.

How It Works

Three steps to a finished pie note

Describe the Session

Type a few sentences about what happened, or dictate with your voice. No special formatting needed.

WellNotes Structures Your Note

Your observations are organized into proper Problem, Intervention, and Evaluation sections using clinical language.

Review, Edit, and Sign

Read through the note, make any edits, then export as PDF or copy to your EHR. Done.

Documentation Before & After WellNotes

Before WellNotes

You just finished a session addressing a complex problem. Now you need to document the problem clearly, describe your intervention, and evaluate whether it worked, all while your next client is waiting.

After WellNotes

Session ends. You type a few sentences. A complete PIE note appears: problem identified, intervention documented, effectiveness evaluated, ready to sign.

From 15+ minutes to under 2

Who Uses PIE Notes?

Social WorkersCase ManagersCommunity Health Providers

PIE Note FAQ

What is a PIE note in nursing compared with therapy?

In nursing, PIE charting documents a nursing problem (often a nursing diagnosis), the nursing intervention and the evaluation of the patient's response, usually alongside a flow sheet. In therapy and social work the structure is the same, but the problem is a psychosocial or clinical issue such as housing, caregiver strain or a treatment goal.

What is an example of a PIE note?

A brief PIE example: Problem, client missed 3 to 4 evening medication doses this week; Intervention, reviewed the regimen, set a phone alarm and provided a pill organizer; Evaluation, client filled the organizer correctly and will be reassessed by pill count in 2 weeks. Full examples are shown on this page.

What is a PIE note in social work?

A PIE note is a three-section clinical documentation format that stands for Problem, Intervention, and Evaluation. Originally developed for social work settings, PIE notes center documentation on the client's identified problem, the intervention used to address it, and an evaluation of whether the intervention was effective. The format creates a tight feedback loop for tracking treatment outcomes.

What is the difference between PIE and SOAP notes?

PIE notes are more concise: three sections focused on problem-intervention-outcome. SOAP notes have four sections that separate subjective and objective data before the assessment and plan. PIE is preferred in social work and case management where the focus is on identifying problems and evaluating intervention effectiveness. SOAP is more common in medical and multidisciplinary settings.

When should I use PIE notes?

PIE notes work best in social work, case management, and community health settings where clear problem identification and outcome tracking are priorities. They are especially useful when you need concise documentation that demonstrates whether your interventions are working and informs adjustments to the treatment approach.

Are PIE notes accepted by insurance companies?

Yes. PIE notes are widely accepted by insurance companies and managed care organizations. The format documents all essential elements (the identified problem, the clinical intervention, and the outcome) that payers require to verify medical necessity and treatment effectiveness.

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