Rules and SOPs for Editors and Chief Editors at Rawallian Community CareConnect

Welcome to the backbone of Rawallian Community CareConnect! As editors and chief editors—proud contributors from Rawalpindi Medical College alumni and health experts—you ensure our platform delivers trustworthy, simple health tips to patients and caregivers. Building on our core mission of “Simple Care Tips, Shared with Heart,” these rules and SOPs expand our existing guidelines to include clear workflows using PublishPress, our WordPress plugin for editorial management. Effective September 14, 2025, this covers your roles, responsibilities, and step-by-step processes. Your diligence keeps content credible and caring—thank you!

Core Rules for All Editors

Follow these to maintain quality—same as our foundational guidelines, with emphasis on collaboration:

1. Verify Information: Cross-check facts with reliable sources (e.g., WHO, peer-reviewed journals like PubMed). Reject anecdotal or outdated content; suggest updates.
2. Ensure Clarity: Simplify language (e.g., “heart attack” over “myocardial infarction”). Organize logically and recommend visuals (infographics, diagrams).
3. Patient-Centered Focus: Use empathetic tone (e.g., “You can try this at home”). Confirm actionable steps without promoting products.
4. Check Compliance: Enforce 800-1500 word limit, proper citations, and no biases (political, religious, commercial). Require conflict disclaimers.
5. Timeline Adherence: Complete reviews within 14 working days. Provide constructive feedback (e.g., “Add an example for better understanding”).
6. Ethical Standards: No plagiarism; flag any issues. Collaborate with peers for consensus.

Chief Editors: Additionally, monitor team performance, resolve disputes, and report to the Core Committee on trends (e.g., common errors in submissions).

SOPs: Editorial Workflow Using PublishPress

We use PublishPress for streamlined flows—custom statuses (Draft, In Progress, Pending Review, Approved, Rejected), Planner for scheduling, and notifications. Here’s the simple step-by-step process from submission to publication. All actions happen in the WordPress dashboard.

Step 1: Submission Intake (Core Committee to Section Editors)

• How It Starts: Contributors submit via the portal (articles, videos, etc.). Core Committee evaluates topics and assigns to a Section Editor via PublishPress.
• Initial Status: Set to “Draft” in PublishPress Planner.
• Section Editor Actions:
  1. Log in to dashboard > Posts > All Posts. Filter by “Pending Review.”
  2. Assign yourself or a peer reviewer. Notify contributor via email (auto via PublishPress).
  3. Initial skim: Check basics (word count, format, no obvious biases). If incomplete, set status to “Needs Revision” and send feedback (e.g., “Add references”).
• Timeline: 2-3 days. Use Planner to schedule reminders.

Step 2: Detailed Review by Section Editors

• Dual Review: Each piece needs two Section Editors and two peers.
  1. First Editor: Set status to “In Progress.” Review for facts, clarity, and patient-focus (use checklist above). Add comments in PublishPress.
  2. Second Editor/Peers: Reassign via “Change Editor” tool. They verify the first review and add input.
  3. Feedback Loop: If changes needed, set to “Needs Revision,” notify contributor (e.g., “Simplify jargon in section 2”). Track versions in Planner.
• Tools in PublishPress:
  • Statuses: Update as you go (e.g., “First Review Complete”).
  • Notifications: Auto-email team and contributor on changes.
  • Planner Calendar: View deadlines; flag overdue items.
• Timeline: 7-10 days total for this phase. Escalate delays to Chief Editor.

Step 3: Chief Editor Clearance and Final Approval

• Escalation: Section Editors set status to “Pending Chief Review” and notify Chief Editor (e.g., via PublishPress workflow rules).
• Chief Editor Actions:
  1. Review all comments and content holistically. Check for consistency across sections.
  2. Resolve conflicts (e.g., differing peer opinions) by discussing in team Slack or email.
  3. If approved: Set to “Approved,” schedule publication in Planner (e.g., next week), and notify Core Committee.
  4. If rejected: Set to “Rejected,” explain reasons, and suggest resubmission.
• Final Checks: Ensure multilingual tags if needed, add SEO (simple keywords), and credit authors.
• Timeline: 2-3 days. Chief Editors aim for same-day turnaround on simple pieces.

Step 4: Publication and Post-Review

• Go Live: Core Committee publishes from “Approved” status. Monitor for 1 week post-launch (e.g., user feedback in forums).
• Ongoing: Editors track published content quarterly. Update old pieces if medical guidelines change (e.g., new WHO advice).
• Reporting: Chief Editors log metrics in PublishPress (e.g., review times) for Core Committee meetings.

Additional SOP Notes

• Training: New editors get a quick PublishPress demo (via video guide). Join monthly team calls for Q&A.
• Tools Access: All have WP logins. Use shared Google Docs for checklists if needed.
• Handling Issues: For disputes or urgent flags (e.g., inaccurate info), Chief Editor decides. Violations of rules may lead to role review.
• Rewards: Top editors earn recognition (e.g., badges) and input on platform growth.

By following these rules and SOPs, you help build a reliable resource that touches lives—from a caregiver in Lahore to one in London. Questions? Contact the team lead or visit our Contact page. Your role is vital—keep the care flowing!

Simple Care Tips, Shared with Heart – Together, we review with excellence!