Reviewer Comments can be sent to other Reviewers

The EM system allows Editors to send completed Reviewer comments to other Reviewers.  For example, if two conflicting reviews are returned, the Editor might like to get a third opinion.  Also, this feature can be used when sending a revised paper back to the original Reviewers.

For example, when a third Reviewer is being asked to break a tie between two Reviewers, there in now a way to send the comments of Reviewers 1 & 2 to the third Reviewer.  Also, this feature provides the Editor with the opportunity to edit the Reviewers’ comments before sending them to Reviewer 3.

When the Editor is presented with a list of potential Reviewers, a list of Reviewers who have completed their reviews can be found at the bottom of the page.  The Editor can click on the name of the Reviewer to view the comments.  If the Editor wishes to send those comments on to the third Reviewer, the Editor clicks the check box next to the name.  The Default Letter option will immediately become inactive, allowing the Editor to send only a Custom Letter, which contains the completed review.  The Editor then chooses the desired Reviewer from the list of potential Reviewers (the Editor can choose multiple names) and clicks on the ‘Send Custom Letter’ button.

When the ‘Send Custom Letter’ button is clicked, the Editor will be able to view the standard Reviewer invitation letter with the selected Reviewer comments appended to it.  They can make any desired edits and send the letter to the chosen Reviewers.  An invitation letter will be sent to the chosen Reviewers with the previous reviews appended.

To Configure:  The administrator must configure their Reviewer assignment letter by adding the following merge fields: %REVIEWER_COMMENTS_TO_AUTHOR% and %REVIEWER_COMMENTS_TO_EDITOR%

The %REVIEWER_COMMENTS_TO_AUTHOR% will insert each selected Reviewer's comments that were intended to go to the Author.  These comments are blinded; each Reviewer appears as Reviewer #1, Reviewer #2, etc.

%REVIEWER_COMMENTS_TO_EDITOR% will insert each selected Reviewer's ‘Confidential Comments’ that were intended to go to the Editor. 

You do not have to put both of these merge fields in the letter.  For example, if it is your policy to send only the comments to Authors to other Reviewers, then you would only include the %REVIEWER_COMMENTS_TO_AUTHOR% in the standard letter.