Thank you for saying this, as my experience mirrors yours. I am all for negotiating best rates but I feel like some of this poster's info is exaggerated, or maybe very important details removed for shock value. I have worked on both sides of this game, and I am an excellent negotiator, but there is no way any site I have worked now or previous would pay me 350/hr for beeper call. Some sites in my local area would require negotiation for that rate during working hours!
If someone is actually getting this rate there is more to this story. Personal connection with the hospital COO, extreme unsavory conditions within the hospital, something. And it's not going to be a long term relationship. Because once someone else finds that spot and offers their services at $250 or some lower number why wouldn't they just dump the expensive guy?
My point is, to the young guys reading this, I wouldn't come in with an opening offer of 350/hr beeper and expect the conversation to continue much longer.